BIAS
All human beings have biases. And this can be a good thing from a survival standpoint or possibly a hinderance from a societal standpoint. Every minute our brain processes countless pieces of information. In an attempt to find shortcuts, our brain creates if:then conclusions. Some of these are useful and based in truth. Other if:then scenarios are created out of false information and can be detrimental to us.
A bias helps a person form opinions about the world, shaping everything from morals, family relationships, food preferences and convictions. These opinions about ideas, political movements, systems and policies allow a person to condense her thinking in order to act.
Studies on bias show that bias begins to be formed during early childhood and is heavily culturally influenced. Parents and family models are important, but bias is also learned from peers, media, and the current power structure in society that all work together to form a conception of tendencies rooted in a mix of truth and falseness.
Studies show that beginning in infancy conscious connections are made—correct or incorrect—every day. If these connections are made often enough, they are relegated to the unconscious. By the time a person is old enough to be aware of bias, countless unknown connections are already influencing the way this person thinks. When the concept of bias is acknowledged, then a person can begin to question the unconscious connections made early in a life.
More dangerous than open bigotry, which studies show is on the decline, is subtle stereotyping which harbors prejudice on a sub-conscious level. So, claiming to be unbiased (and wanting to be without bias) is noble but unrealistic.
The Utah Bee understands that each person brings a bias to conversations here in the hive. The Bee isn’t afraid of bias, but realizes that acknowledging this bias helps elevate the conversation.