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Investigating Implicit Bias

WE ARE... biased!? Penn State's Implicit Bias Resource Hub

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Issues
      • A More Progressive Approach: Recognizing the Role of Implicit Bias in Institutional Racism (2015)
      • Health Care Providers’ Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Lesbian Women and Gay Men (2015)
      • LGBT Discrimination In Health Care: Heterosexual Providers Found To Hold Bias On Sexual Orientation (2015)
      • Can We Really Measure Implicit Bias? Maybe Not (2017)
      • How Small Inequities Lead To Big Inequalities (2017)
      • The ‘Thumbprint of The Culture’: Implicit Bias And Police Shootings (2017)
      • Time for New York City to stand against anti-veteran bias (2017)
      • Unconscious Bias Towards People with Disabilities in the Workplace (2017)
    • Solutions
      • Long-term reduction in implicit race bias: A prejudice habit-breaking intervention (2012)
      • How Mindfulness Can Help Dislodge Unconscious Racial Biases (2014)
      • Do Contact and Empathy Mitigate Bias Against Gay and Lesbian People Amon Heterosexual First-Year Medical Students? (2015)
      • Reducing Implicit Racial Preferences: II Intervention Effectiveness Across Time (2016)
      • Want to Hire Veterans? Look Past Your Biases, Misconceptions (2016)
      • A Gender Bias Habit-Breaking Intervention Led to Increased Hiring of Female Faculty in STEMM Departments (2017)
      • Fair Play: A Study of Scientific Workforce Trainers’ Experience Playing an Educational Video Game about Racial Bias (2017)
      • Unconscious Bias Towards People with Disabilities in the Workplace (2017)
    • Higher Education
      • The Dangerous Mind: Unconscious Bias In Higher Education (2015)
      • The Real Effects of Unconscious Bias in the Workplace (2016)
      • State of the Science: Implicit Bias Review (2016)
    • WPSU
      • How Small Inequities Lead To Big Inequalities (2017)
      • The ‘Thumbprint of The Culture’: Implicit Bias And Police Shootings (2017)
  • Books
    • Issues
      • Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (2011)
      • Everyday Bias: Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives (2014)
      • Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People (2016)
      • The Diversity Advantage: Fixing Gender Inequality In the Workplace (2016)
    • Solutions
      • Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (2011)
      • Everyday Bias: Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives (2014)
      • 3 Keys to Defeating Unconscious Bias: Watch, Think, Act (2015)
      • The Diversity Advantage: Fixing Gender Inequality In the Workplace (2016)
      • Inclusion: Diversity, The New Workplace & The Will To Change (2017)
    • Stereotypes
      • Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (2011)
  • Videos
    • Issues
      • American Denial: Implicit Bias Test (2015)
      • What No One Sees: Implicit Bias (2015)
      • Fixing Racism – Racism is at the Root of many of Humanity’s Evils (2016)
    • Solutions
      • Fixing Racism – Racism is at the Root of many of Humanity’s Evils (2016)
      • Implicit Bias (2016)
    • Lecture
      • Implicit Bias (2016)
    • TED Talk
      • Are you biased? I am. (2016)
      • Fixing Racism – Racism is at the Root of many of Humanity’s Evils
      • It’s About Time We Challenge Our Unconcious Bias
    • WPSU
      • American Denial: Implicit Bias Test (2015)
  • Resources
    • Kirwin Institute
    • Implicit Associations Test (IAT)
    • Training Resources
    • Witches of Glum
  • FAQ
Nittany Lion Shrine by Rob Lee

Nittany Lion Shrine by Rob Lee

What is implicit bias?

“Implicit Bias – The attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.”
– Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity

There are a few key characteristics that are important for understanding implicit bias:

  • Implicit biases are universal. Implicit bias is something that affects everyone, even those who claim they don’t have them.
  • Someone’s implicit associations do not necessarily mirror their stated beliefs or even follow their explicit values.
  • Studies have shown that people tend to favor others that share their own identities but they can still have biases toward their own group.
  • Implicit biases are adaptable and can be unlearned through different debiasing techniques.

Implicit bias and Penn State

Penn State Values identity with text Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community incorporatedAt the core of the University are the Penn State Values. The Values are shared ideals about how people should act toward one another, the standards to which we hold ourselves, and the beliefs we find important. These six Values articulate our ethical principles and should guide our actions and decisions as members of the Penn State community.

So what does implicit bias have to do with Penn State Values?

Understanding that implicit biases are hidden in each of us and identifying what they are is the first step to addressing them. Once they are revealed, decisions can be made as to how to engage them. Insight into one’s unconscious thoughts allows for deliberate action. Increasing self-awareness enables professional growth that can align with Penn State’s Values and create a more inclusive community. For more information about how implicit bias relates to the Penn State Values, please visit the Penn State Values page to learn more.

As you look through these resources, we hope that you will be able to answer:

  • Why is implicit bias important?
  • How does it affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors?
  • What can we do about it?

Feedback

We welcome your feedback through the anonymous short survey linked on the right-hand side of this website. Thank you.

Top Places to Start

  • Immaculate perception: Jerry Kang at TEDxSanDiego 2013
  • Implicit Associations Test
  • The Dangerous Mind: Unconscious Bias In Higher Education (2015)
  • Fixing Racism – Racism is at the Root of many of Humanity’s Evils
  • Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People (2016)

Message from the President

“There is no place for hate, overt or subtle, at Penn State.”

– President Barron, “No place for hate at Penn State“

Categories

Penn State Educational Equity Resources

  • Educational Equity
  • Report Bias
  • Diversity and Inclusion Calendar

Disclaimer

The Implicit Bias website may contain links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with Penn State’s Office of Educational Equity. Please note that Penn State’s Office of Educational Equity does not guarantee the accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites.

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