Tequila Robinson

UWRT 1104

Writers Moves

The Conversation: What Others Are Saying

A number of psychologists have recently suggested that the correlation between implicit

bias and discriminatory behavior may be weaker than previously thought.

Common sense seems to dictate that if you believe something to be true, you would act in

accordance with those beliefs, but studies in implicit social cognition reveal that may not

be the case.
It has become common today to dismiss the Implicit Association Tests as a fad.

The Art of Summarizing

Researchers argue that exposure to Obama during the 2008 presidential primaries

contributed to a significant reduction in implicit anti-Black attitudes.

She acknowledges that unintentional perceptions hinder the success and advancement of

underrepresented groups.
The writer emphasizes that biases are learned at any early age.

The Art of Quoting

According to Gawronski, LeBel, and Peters, Contemporary psychology is characterized

by widespread skepticism against the use of self-report measures.

In Holroyds view, However, the claim that such influences are implicit is, in fact, not

straightforwardly related to the claim that individuals lack awareness of the morally

problematic dimensions of their behavior.

Levy states, In the laboratory, people who profess a commitment to or a belief in racial

equality can be induced to behave in ways that strongly suggest that they harbor mental

states that conflict with their sincere avowals.

Ways of Responding to Source Material

 Holroyds theory of having three differing kinds of awareness is extremely useful because

it sheds light on the difficult problem of being aware of your biases enough to combat

them.
I agree that although people may believe in equal treatment, they may still have implicit

biases because my experience with my best friend who is a White woman confirms it.
I agree that unwanted biases can be mitigated, a point that needs emphasizing since so

many people still believe that since implicit biases are natural, there is nothing that can be

done about them.

Saying Why It Matters

New discoveries in the study of implicit social cognition will have significant

applications in understanding social inequities.

These findings challenge the work of earlier researchers, who tended to assume there was

a strong correlation between implicit bias and discriminatory behavior.

Understanding our hidden biases is important because these biases can unintentionally

affect our behavior.