Unconscious Bias €“ Types, Effects And Solutions

The purpose of this article is to review definitions of unconscious bias by leading authors on the topic, to attempt to derive a definitional scheme of the different types, and to look for their effects and solutions to address them. Unconscious bias is part of human nature. It occurs when people make fast judgments and form opinions about people and situations without realizing it. Unconscious bias in the workplace can negatively impact diversity and inclusion in recruiting, hiring and promotion practices. Although all people have some form of unconscious bias, the tendency to have biases of different types can be mitigated. When biases are truly unconscious, fighting them begins with raising awareness of their existence. In addition, biases can be mitigated by taking a deliberate and conscious decision rather than following the brain’s automatic and unconscious response. Awareness training on this topic can begin to inspire behavior change in an attempt to neutralise or control prejudice.