Bias

TL;DR

A predisposition that influences thoughts, decisions, and actions and can produce unequal treatment and unfair outcomes.
Manifests in multiple forms (cognitive, social, gender, age, conflicts of interest) that affect individuals and groups differently.
Mitigation requires recognizing and challenging biases, seeking diverse perspectives, and organizational measures like diversity policies and unconscious-bias training.

Definition

Bias is a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective, ideology, or individual, often without considering alternative viewpoints or evidence. This inclination can affect an individual’s thoughts, decisions, and actions, leading to unequal treatment and unfair outcomes.

Explanation

Bias alters judgment and behavior by favoring certain perspectives or interests over others, frequently without objective consideration of contrary information. The source identifies several types:

Cognitive bias: Results from individuals’ mental processes, such as beliefs, attitudes, and expectations. For instance, the confirmation bias occurs when individuals tend to seek out and interpret information that supports their existing beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts them.
Social bias: Driven by societal norms and values, such as stereotypes and prejudices. For example, racial bias is the discrimination against individuals based on their race, leading to unequal opportunities and treatment.
Gender bias: Unequal treatment or expectations of individuals based on their gender. For instance, gender bias in the workplace can lead to unequal pay and promotion opportunities for women compared to men.
Age bias: Discrimination against individuals based on their age, leading to unequal opportunities and treatment. For example, older workers may face difficulty finding employment or may be passed over for promotions due to their age.
Conflicts of interest: Arises when individuals have personal or financial interests that may influence their decisions and actions. For instance, a financial advisor who receives commissions for recommending particular investments may be biased towards recommending those investments to their clients, even if they are not in the clients’ best interests.

Consequences noted in the source include poor decisions and judgments from cognitive biases, unequal treatment and opportunities from social and gender biases, and unethical behavior or harm resulting from conflicts of interest.

Examples

Confirmation bias

“The confirmation bias occurs when individuals tend to seek out and interpret information that supports their existing beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts them.”

Racial bias

“Racial bias is the discrimination against individuals based on their race, leading to unequal opportunities and treatment.”

Gender bias (workplace)

“Gender bias in the workplace can lead to unequal pay and promotion opportunities for women compared to men.”

Age bias (older workers)

“Older workers may face difficulty finding employment or may be passed over for promotions due to their age.”

Conflict of interest (financial advisor)

“A financial advisor who receives commissions for recommending particular investments may be biased towards recommending those investments to their clients, even if they are not in the clients’ best interests.”

Notes or pitfalls

Cognitive biases can lead to poor decisions and judgments.
Social and gender biases can produce unequal treatment and opportunities for marginalized groups.
Conflicts of interest can result in unethical behavior and harm to individuals and organizations.
Combating bias requires recognizing and challenging personal and institutional biases, seeking diverse perspectives, examining evidence objectively, and considering alternative viewpoints. Organizations can reduce bias by implementing diversity and inclusion policies and providing training on unconscious bias.

Cognitive bias
Confirmation bias
Social bias
Racial bias
Gender bias
Age bias
Conflicts of interest
Unconscious bias
Diversity and inclusion