Introduction to Unconscious Bias California Teachers Association Presented by Lisa Adams Human Rights Department

What Do You See? Most will see the bird. Ask the group – “ but what about the lady?” will anyone talk to me about lady? Participants will continue to respond and eventually more and more will see the lady in the picture or they will help each other to see it. Summary - most people weren’t willing to discuss the image of the woman until they could see it. How do we do that in real life situation – what about incidences of racism, sexism, or bullying on campus and someone wants to talk about it. Are we willing to discuss issues that may not be apparent to us at first.

the actual way things are. PERCEPTION VS. REALITY Perception We often assume the way we personally see things are… We assume that “what we know” is based on what... What we think we know, is based on what... Reality the actual way things are. we see and understand. we think we see. 3

What Is Unconscious Bias?  Attitudes and stereotypes that operate outside of awareness, yet are significant in determining judgment and behavior Research shows that unconscious bias may be reversed once it is brought to someone’s attention making the invisible visible. Becoming more aware.

Context for Unconscious Bias Taking personal and collective responsibility in all relationships within the school and its community Recognizing we have unconscious biases that affect our perception and judgment and behavior towards other people SCRIPT: 1 minute By developing an awareness of our unconscious bias, we better understand ourselves and the way we react to situations, objects and most importantly, to people. This new understanding then promotes self-reflection that creates some doubts and sometimes certainty, about how we view the world. At the end of the day, we all take personal responsibility for our actions and relationships. The discussion around unconscious bias will enable us to pause and question the way we have always done things - and perhaps find room for positive change. We all have unconscious biases. By the very nature that we are all human beings, we have preferences, likes and dislikes. The preferences, over time through habit and validation, affect our perception and judgment about other people.

Unconscious Bias Modules 1. Unconscious Bias – Is It Real? 2. The Journey Begins - Implicit Bias 3. The Assumptions We Make- Categorization and Stereotyping 4. Power and Privilege 5. The Path to Cultural Competency and De-Biasing SCRIPT: 1 minute The training I am presenting today is an overview of the Unconscious Bias Training. Due to limited time, we are presenting only a short snapshot of the full and extended training. The extended modules are listed on the slide on the screen (read each module aloud). Each module can take up to 2 to 3 hours.

How To Measure?  Implicit Association Test (IAT) Designed to measure implicit attitudes by measuring the strength of automatic associations between various attitudes, objects and selective attributes https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/ Tell participants in the full UB training we have them take the test. 7

Categorization sets the stage for stereotype activation: Is usually automatic People tend to categorize first by race, gender or age When dormant stereotypes are activated, they are capable of influencing thoughts and behavior toward the stereotype group Imagine descriptive labels on buckets

Stereotype Activation Categorizing a person as a member of a group Stereotype Application Once activated, stereotypes are capable of influencing thoughts about and behavior toward the person Once a stereotype is activated, it becomes available for use in determining how one behaves toward the target person. Activation does not necessarily mean it will be acted upon (“applied”). Certain factors may mitigate the application of stereotypes, including: the motivation to control unacceptable behavior and/or the motivation to form accurate impressions of others when interacting with them. This information about an individual includes obtaining specific characteristics of that person, thereby counteracting the stereotype and its application. The question is whether one chooses to seek such individuating information. Categorization sets the stage for stereotype activation Is usually automatic Most people tend to categorize by race, gender or age When dormant stereotypes are activated, they are capable of influencing thoughts and behavior toward the stereotype group

Descriptive - Describes- attributes that members of a group are believed to hold Prescriptive - Prescriptive What people believe members of a group should be like, how they should think, feel and behave STEREOTYPES Beliefs and opinions about the characteristics, attributes and behaviors of members of various groups Positive or negative? Accurate or inaccurate? Descriptive\Prescriptive

LADDER OF INFERENCE Action Our beliefs are the truth. The truth is obvious. Our beliefs are based on real data. The data we select is the real data. Action Beliefs Conclusion Assumptions Where did the sports caster start on the ladder (beliefs) Meaning Data Experience

Stereotype Application Can attempt to override by: Gathering additional information Replacing the stereotype with more egalitarian responses Correcting oneself by adjusting responses opposite to the stereotype Suppressing information about the stereotype

Microaggressions “…brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.” - Columbia professor Derald Sue (borrowed from psychiatrist Dr. Chester Pierce who coined the term in the ’70s) http://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/racial-microagressions-you-hear-on-a-daily-basis?s=mobile

Empathetic Responding Empathetic responding involves listening to a person’s perspective and reacting in ways that maintain a positive relationship and encourage further discussion.

Unconscious Bias – Where And When?  Acting on implicit bias increases and decreases under certain circumstances, for example: Distraction Stress Boredom Time pressure Absence of accountability Lack of motivation to be accurate and fair Rowena (2 minutes) 15

A Few Practical Tips Question your assumptions  Question your assumptions Look for patterns in your reactions/responses to certain people or situations. Know your triggers. What sets you off? Ask questions first – question your own assumptions

Unconscious Bias Is…  Not an end result; it is a PROCESS that requires a meaningful change in attitude, mindset and behavior An exploratory process towards making an internal shift in perceptions, judgments and behavior 17

California Teachers Association Human Rights Department Lisa Adams ladams@cta.org 562 346 8493