 | Sometimes you are convinced that 2+2=5 when others will tell you different. This is known and an unconscious bias - you come into a situation with a fixed belief and hold onto that even though you are being told or shown different. There are different kinds of bias. They are as follows, but before listing these various types of bias let's take a look at what it is. Oxford Languages states that a bias is, "inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way considered to be unfair" |
We don't see our biases that's why they are described as unconscious, we grow up with them so our 'norm' can seem to be the way the world works but often we'll meet people with different world views and quickly see that in fact we don't see things the same way so in situations where we need to bring a neutral mind to a situation we often don't!
Back to that list of different biases!
1) Affinity Bias - "birds of a feather flock together" we will generally befriend and socailise with people like us. We will feel most comfortable with those who look and sound like us.
Back to that list of different biases!
1) Affinity Bias - "birds of a feather flock together" we will generally befriend and socailise with people like us. We will feel most comfortable with those who look and sound like us.
| 2) Confirmation Bias - Finding information that supports our agenda or world view. The Venn diagram to the right gives you a great visual of what confirmation bias does to our perspective on life. Being able to see this is happening is a great skill and one what will assist us to work with many more people objectively and with unbiased clarity of our role. |  |
3) Labelling Bias - How they look, dress, show up externally. It's so easy to judge. But I remember a car sales man tell me about a farmer that turned up at the show room looking for some help with a car and no one gave him the time of day. He went elsewhere to the showroom of the guy telling the story and bought 3 cars on the spot. He was dressed shabbily and unkempt but the sales people in the first showroom judged his ability to pay on his appearance! WRONG! Never assume...
4) Selective Attention Bias - Surrounding ourselves with those who are similar to ourselves. This has a lot in common with the affinity bias. We feel 'safe' being around those that look and act like we do but this can narrow our field of vision when it comes to working with people of all creeds and backgrounds.
There are other biases like the 'weight' bias, this can be common in our industry. We see people who are over weight and can start to judge them as lazy. We know how much work goes into looking good and we may think over weight people just don't put in the work. There may be an element of truth, there may not, but until we get to know people we don't know their story. There may well be very good reasons why people are the way they are.
Respectful Care
Respectful care delivers care that exudes acceptance, absolute worth and autonomy. This allows the client to open up and feel heard when you are working with them. If you have overcome all the biases in the book you will be free to serve and make real differences in peoples live....
There are other biases like the 'weight' bias, this can be common in our industry. We see people who are over weight and can start to judge them as lazy. We know how much work goes into looking good and we may think over weight people just don't put in the work. There may be an element of truth, there may not, but until we get to know people we don't know their story. There may well be very good reasons why people are the way they are.
Respectful Care
Respectful care delivers care that exudes acceptance, absolute worth and autonomy. This allows the client to open up and feel heard when you are working with them. If you have overcome all the biases in the book you will be free to serve and make real differences in peoples live....
