Implicit Bias and the World We Live in : How We Discriminate Unconsciously

In this English translation of a popular Dutch philosophy book, Lieke Asma challenges the widespread assumption that implicit bias is understood by investigating what goes on in our unconscious mind.

By connecting the latest insights in psychology with theories of philosophy of action, Asma critically reflects on models of implicit cognition that are typically taken for granted. These existing theories direct our attention back to our minds. But unintentional discrimination takes place in the world and in our interactions with the information we have about a person. When we unconsciously discriminate, we are subject to a particular set of external circumstances that make it possible for us not to recognize that we are responding to irrelevant, potentially harmful information.

Asma asks us to zoom out, pay attention to the nature of discrimination. We need to understand the relationship between the social information we receive about a person’s gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation or religious affiliation and how our behaviour harms or disadvantages them. Asma shows us that implicit bias is not caused by unconscious mental states, it is not a trait someone has. It is in our hidden discriminatory actions.

Can we identify and avoid implicit bias if we direct our focus outwards and look outside the mind? This compelling alternative approach not only explains why certain interventions do not work: it offers us the chance to recognize, overcome and combat discrimination in ourselves and the structures around us.