Implicit Bias In The Classroom

In today’s society, announcing one’s aversion towards people different from them is the fastest way receive ridicule. In general, society has progressed to a point where being xenophobic, racist, and sexist is socially unacceptable. Despite this progress, society still suffers from the effects of racism, xenophobia, and sexism. Why is that? The answer has to do with the fact that while explicit expressions of these behaviors are seen as unacceptable, implicit associations still permeate our society. These associations lead to implicit bias. Implicit bias is readily becoming the most pervasive form of bias in our society. It contributes to both micro and macro-level inequalities, and raising awareness of implicit bias is crucial in order to suppress its effects on society. This paper will start with a discussion of what implicit bias is. This will be followed by a discussion of the effects of implicit bias. It will conclude with a discussion of how implicit bias can be combatted.

As behavior is manifested daily in classrooms, teachers are frequently asked to make quick judgements while under tremendous stress. Teachers who feel prepared and confident will have already prepared their myriad of responses for the complexities of student behavior, especially from students who show the greatest diversity, and rely on objective reasoning when making behavioral decisions. (Bryan, Day-Vines, Griffin, & Moore-Thomas, 2012). Conversely, teachers who are overwhelmed and have feelings of inadequacy will fuel their decision making and behavioral judgements form a source of anxiety, fear, and control, and quickly turn to subjective reasoning when making behavioral decisions (Bryan et al., 2012). In addition, subjective reasoning can draw on and fuel implicit biases and manifest itself inappropriately to minor behavior (Forsyth, Biggar, Forsyth, & Howat, 2015).

This is shown in a variety of ways, however in specific by segregation making whites seem superior and people making hiring decisions based on the names of practically equal candidates. As the effect of Jim Crow laws has helped to separate blacks and whites in the South and mentally all of America, many people found no choice but to acquaint themselves with those of their own race, which remains an issue today. This concept is explained in the following quote: “Experts say America is still struggling to reverse the legacy of institutional racism that has left many communities segregated today, creating the pool from which we form relationships and social circles,” (CNN). Although it may seem incorrect, the reason why racial stereotypes exist and make white people more dominant is in part because of the change segregation made that had to be undone. A specific example of this kind of implicit bias is shown in the next example, which regards a case study where business owners were given two résumés, one for a theoretical white man, Brendan, and the other a theoretical black man, Jamal. Further detail is said in this quote: “Because the résumés were statistically identical, any differences in outcomes could be attributed only to the factor we manipulated: the names,” (New York Times). As stated in the quote, the résumés were pretty much the same, which is where implicit bias comes in. The business owners most times chose “Brendan” over “Jamal” for the reason that their names are usually associated with white and black men respectfully. Business owners want people in their company that they can trust, and more often than not it is interpreted that white men are more trustworthy than black, regardless of character. A connection between the visit of Reynolds and Kiely and the concept of bias in the context of the police force

There are many strategies that I could learn to lessen the negative effects of differences or misunderstandings between students and their parents. According to our textbook Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards, you need to have positive relationships with and among families (Derman-Sparks, Edwards, & National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2010, p. 36). The information that I learned from this book will help me develop appropriate strategies that will decrease the volume of misunderstanding that could develop in the classroom.

discusses the results of a Implicit Association Test which measures a persons automatic association between mental representation of objects in the memory. Nearly 88 percent of the white race who took the Implicit Association Test show inherent racial bias. They have found when white people carry a implicit racial bias that they subconsciously prefer white people over black people in areas such as employment and academic. People don't even realize that they have a subconscious biases against a certain race. Which can affect how they interact with them. America still has a problem with race, The Civil War ended many years ago but the war between races still exist . Once we acknowledge the truth behind inherent racial bias we can move towards

Implicit bias is an individual’s internal beliefs regarding others and influences how people conduct themselves in various settings and situations and may result in injustices such as stereotyping or racial profiling. The National Center for States Courts defines implicit bias as “judgement or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes.” This behavior is difficult to identify, because people typically respond and behave in ways that seem appropriate and protect their own interests. Furthermore, these beliefs are more often subconscious than overt. Some groups are working to deter implicit bias and promote diversity.

Social psychologists have studied the cause and effect of biases, specifically by white police officers towards minorities. Implicit bias, specifically racial bias, describes a psychological process in which a person’s unconscious racial belief (stereotypes) and attitudes (prejudices) affect his or her behaviors, perceptions, and judgments in ways that they are largely unaware of and typically, unable to control (Graham).

One hundred and sixty-six exonerations took place in 2016, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, setting a new record (“Exonerations 2016” 3). Indeed, misconvictions are now seen as part of the normal judicial process(“Exonerations 2016” 17). However, why are there so many mistakes in convicting individuals? One of the largest causes may be biases within the courts. Implicit bias in the American judicial system may seriously impact the underprivileged in receiving impartial verdicts in the legal system and access to quality lawyers.

Define implicit bias and give an example. The definition of implicit refers to something that is suggested or implied but never clearly said. An example of implicit is when the wife gives her husband a dirty look when she drops the husband's socks on the floor. Implicit Bias is also known as implicit social cognition; implicit bias refers to the attitudes of the people or the stereotypes that tend to affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unaware situation (Ohio State University, 2015). An example of implicit bias is when some doctors had become shown a patient history and where asked to decide about heart disease. The doctors were more likely to recommend cardiac cauterization an effective procedure to help the patients to

The two articles “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” and “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid” are about how race and education can effect one another. Both articles mention the different effects age can have on education. They both include numerous examples of different types of situations that students in America face in school. They both state that black students and white students do not experience school the same way. Though both articles have many things in common, they are vastly different.

I don’t think there is one school district that is not fighting for or have some type of program in place to address the achievement between whites and student of color; but yet the issue doesn’t seem to be going away. As I reflect on the meaning of racism as defined by the authors, they also state that this mistreatment is carried out by societal institutions or people who have been conditioned by society to act, consciously or unconsciously in harmful ways towards people of color. Sadly, I fear that so many of our young people has or is falling prey to the transfer of racism. We (teachers, parents, and the community) have to acknowledge with our kids that race is part of their daily lives; but they do not need to conform and understand how to rise above the stereotypes through encouragement, high expectations, build caring relationships and self-confidence they will

Due to the mismatch of race from teachers to students in schools, the minority students have a harder time receiving a higher education.“When minority students see someone at the blackboard that looks like you, it helps you reconceive what’s possible for you,” said Thomas S. Dee, a professor of education at Stanford University. By having a teacher with the same race as the student, creates a bond in knowledge of the barriers that minorities have to jump through. It also lets students see that even though they might be in a tough situation, they are able to receive a high level of education and may be able to reach their dreams. In an article in the Nea Today titled When Implicit Bias Shapes Teacher Expectations, they explain that the opinion

For this assignment, I’ve decided to complete the Race Implicit Bias Test. I decided to take that test because I wanted to see which race I had an automatic preference toward. I expected my results to be either be neutral or have a slight preference to White people to Black people.

For The Implicit Association Task (IAT) assignment, I began with the test titled, Weight ('Fat - Thin' IAT). This IAT requires that ability to distinguish people who are obese and people who are thin. It often reveals an automatic preference for thin people relative to fat people. This test included associated “good” and “bad” words, such as, joyful and ugly to a silhouette sized person that was either thin or obese. There are some questions about beliefs, attitudes, and opinions, and some standard demographic questions.

Bias and stereotyping can both be harmful for self-esteem and the developmental process in children. Bias is not only harmful for the target group since it lowers the self-esteem, but the group who feels superiority over the other is also harmed. The feeling of being superior disconnects a person from reality. Too much of self-esteem reduces the appreciation of others and may even slow down progress for the beholder. Stereotyping creates preconceived notions in the minds of children and adults due to which they fail to see others for what they actually are and rather judge them on the basis of information that is misguided and obsolete. Stereotyping results in developing strong perspectives of people who are different and causes prejudice.