Unwinding Prejudice: Techniques for Reducing Bias (Part 4)

Presented by Evelyn Carter with Commune

Tags: associations, intentions, prejudice, stereotypes

“You can’t stop being bias just because you know it’s a possibility. You have to develop strategies and a plan of action.”

Ways to Intervene on Biases

  • Strengthening filters
    • Your attitude is consistent with the beliefs you want to convey
    • The Self-Regulation of Prejudice Model (Dr. Margo Monteith)
      • Study found discrepancies between how people believed they should behave (ideal self) and how they actually do (actual self)
        • Reflect on automatic associations that are consistent with a stereotype
        • Allow yourself to feel discomfort for having those association
        • Allow discomfort to create a different plan of action (pattern of behaviour) for the future
  • Implementation intentions (Dr. Peter Gollwitzer)
    • Your action plan for achieving the goals you’re committed to
      • e.g., Telling yourself when ______ happens I will do ______.
    • Break goals down into smaller, measurable and manageable steps
  • Changing your associations
    • Counter stereotyping training (Dr. Kerry Kawakami)
    • Being mindful of the information you’re taking in
    • Challenge your previous beliefs through books, podcasts, movies
    • Expose yourself to information that combats stereotypes
  • Being internally motivated to being non-prejudice
    • Your primary reason for reducing your biases is driven by your personal values and goals
    • You’ll be more consistent in employing strategies

Resources to learn more:

Just Say No (to Stereotyping)

Learn more from Evelyn:

Identity & Bias (Part 1)

Identifying Implicit Attitude (Part 2)

The Impact of Bias (Part 3)

Structured Equality (Part 5)

More from Commune

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