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28 - Public Attitudes on Implicit Bias

from Section VII - The Public’s (Mis)understanding of Implicit Bias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2024

By
Yulia Baskakova ,
Gary Langer ,
Jon A. Krosnick  and
Allison De Jong
Edited by
Jon A. Krosnick ,
Tobias H. Stark  and
Amanda L. Scott
Jon A. Krosnick
Affiliation:
Stanford University, California
Tobias H. Stark
Affiliation:
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Amanda L. Scott
Affiliation:
The Strategy Team, Columbus, Ohio
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Summary

The concept of unconscious bias is firmly entrenched in American society, yet evidence has accumulated in recent years questioning widely accepted claims about the phenomenon, including assertions that it can be measured reliably, influences behavior and is susceptible to intervention. We adopt a two-pronged approach to investigating the state of affairs: First, assessing claims made about unconscious bias in the public sphere; and second, conducting a national public opinion survey – the first of its kind, to the extent we can ascertain – designed to measure public understanding of unconscious bias. Results show that broad majorities of Americans think unconscious biases are prevalent, influence behavior and can be mitigated through training. Confidence in its accurate measurement is lower. The public sees unconscious biases as more prevalent than biases that are consciously held, and as worthy of mitigation efforts by businesses and government. Our chapter assesses these attitudes and understandings and compares them with the state of the science on unconscious bias.

Keywords

implicit biasunconscious biaspublic opinionpublic attitudesprejudiceimplicit bias training
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Implicit Bias and Racism , pp. 715 - 744
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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