Unconscious Bias
Automatic, unintentional stereotypes influencing decisions and judgments about others.
Also: implicit bias
Definition
Unconscious bias refers to the implicit attitudes, stereotypes, and associations that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions about people without our conscious awareness. In the workplace, it can influence hiring decisions, performance evaluations, promotion choices, and team dynamics in ways that disadvantage certain groups. Common types include affinity bias (favoring similar people), halo effect (letting one trait color overall judgment), and attribution bias.
Example
“Blind resume screening removed candidates' names and universities, reducing unconscious bias in shortlisting and increasing representation of women in technical interview stages by 30%.”
Synonyms
- implicit bias
- hidden bias
- cognitive bias
- implicit prejudice
Antonyms / Opposites
- conscious decision-making
- objective judgment