TrainingBriefs® Explicit Bias

Explicit bias refers to the attitudes and beliefs we have about a person or group of people on a conscious level. We know these biases exist. We are conscious of them. When people perceive their biases to be valid, they are more likely to justify unfair treatment - which has negative impacts on the target of the bias as well as the entire organization.

Most of the time, explicit biases – and their expression – arise as the direct result of a perceived threat. Often, when people feel threatened, they are more likely to draw group boundaries to distinguish themselves from others.