Unconscious bias is everywhere.
There are many studies demonstrating that even folks that consider themselves woke show biases in their judgments of people, biases that they are not consciously aware of.
One of the most well-known is the Heidi-Howard study, by Professor Frank Flynn of Columbia Business School. Heidi Roizen was a successful Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Flynn presented half his class with a case study with Heidi’s name on it, and gave the other half of the class the same case study with her name changed to “Howard.”
The students rated Howard and Heidi equally competent, but they felt Heidi was significantly less likable and worthy of being hired than Howard and perceived her as more “selfish” than Howard.
Can you start to recognize some of your own? Can I?
There are many studies demonstrating that even folks that consider themselves woke show biases in their judgments of people, biases that they are not consciously aware of.
One of the most well-known is the Heidi-Howard study, by Professor Frank Flynn of Columbia Business School. Heidi Roizen was a successful Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Flynn presented half his class with a case study with Heidi’s name on it, and gave the other half of the class the same case study with her name changed to “Howard.”
The students rated Howard and Heidi equally competent, but they felt Heidi was significantly less likable and worthy of being hired than Howard and perceived her as more “selfish” than Howard.
Can you start to recognize some of your own? Can I?
