Implicit Racial Bias: Hidden Thoughts That

Affect Your Life

Haley Sayo
Independent Research GT
February 23, 2016
Advisor: Kelly Capotosto
Dr. Melissa Kiehl

Abstract
The largest cause of disparity in society is racism. Though the most obvious racism is
explicit, there is a deeper level that causes more invasive, intense thoughts: implicit racism.
While explicit racism is only exhibited by certain people, implicit racism is found in nearly
everyone. The problem with implicit racism is that although it is everywhere, it is difficult to
pinpoint and change. If someone was being implicitly discriminated against in the workplace, it
would be nearly impossible to prove. The crucial part to changing this is to teach as many people
about it as possible and doing research to understand how it is affected. In this project, a survey
was conducted to see how implicit bias is increased by factors such as age, race, and location.
The data collected shows that while bias has decreased in todays society, there are still obvious
cause and effect relationships between implicit bias and the factors mentioned.
Introduction
A man named Juan was searching for a job. He applied for many, had various skills and
qualifications, but he never got a reply. One day, he decided to change the name on his rsum to

John. After that, employers were desperate to interview and hire him. Unfortunately, Juans
story is not unique. This kind of racism, known as implicit racial bias, is still a prominent
occurrence in todays society. Implicit racism is rooted deeply in the subconscious and affects
everything from employment to criminal justice (Desmond-Harris). This issue plays a huge,
negative role in the lives of many people, especially minorities (Roberts). Although mostly
everyone has internalized implicit bias, it can become more severe as a result of ones age, race,
and whether they live in a location that is more explicitly racist (Capotosto). By this standard, an
older person living in the South, Midwest, or Northeast would have a stronger preference for

someone of their own race. This research paper will define and describe implicit racial bias,
identify how implicit bias affects society and daily life, prove that there is a relationship between
implicit bias and age, race, and location, and identify ways to decrease bias.
Review of Literature
Implicit racial bias is a pervasive form of racism that affects an individuals subconscious
feelings, actions, and attitudes towards people of certain racial and ethnic groups
(Understanding Implicit Bias). Due to its subconscious nature, it is not always easy to pinpoint
and is usually discovered through tests, such as Harvards Implicit Associations Test (DesmondHarris). This test finds implicit bias by telling test takers to sort African American and European
American children with good and bad words, such as peace and evil. The test then measures
the amount of time it takes for the person to sort each race with the words. If it takes more time
for the test taker to sort white people with bad words than good words, they most likely have a
preference for white people. While implicit bias has a negative impact on the lives of many
people regardless of their race, it is particularly detrimental to those of color. It can be found
everywhere in society, especially in areas such as education, criminal justice, medicine, housing,
and employment (Desmond-Harris; "Understanding Implicit Bias). Although this kind of racism
is hidden and therefore more difficult to recognize, there are many ways to decrease its severity
and influence (Capotosto). By researching and becoming more aware of implicit racism, current
and future generations could live in a much more equal and unbiased world.
When it comes to education, it has been found that students of color receive noticeably
less assistance from teachers due to their expectations of academic skills and are more often
overlooked for scholarships (Desmond-Harris; Roberts). As stated in the Kirwan Institutes
Implicit Bias Review in 2013, teachers are less likely to help a black student with schoolwork

compared to a white one because of their personal bias. Teachers expect less intellectually from
black students, resulting in less help and eventually causing the students to be less prepared for
future classes. Less help leads to worse grades, leading to lower graduation rates among
minorities. According to data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics, black
students graduate at a rate twenty percent lower than white students. This implicit bias stemming
from the classroom causes a vicious cycle that will later cause black students to be seen as lesser
because of the expectations set on them and the lack of education they receive from their
teachers. Implicit bias not only affects teachers perception of intellectual skill, but also of
students behavior. Teachers are more likely to look for bad behaviors in black students, usually
causing a misinterpretation of behavior and subsequently more punishments ("How Does
Education Fuel Unconscious Racism?"). According to data collected by the Civil Rights Office
of the U.S. Department of Education, black students are suspended and expelled three times as
much as white students. On average, less than five percent of white students are suspended
compared to sixteen percent of black students. This information shows the effects of implicit bias
on discipline, education, and justice in education. If minorities are constantly discriminated
against, especially in schools, they will be unable to become successful members of society.
In the field of criminal justice, minority groups are more prone to receive harsher or
longer sentences for the same crime and are more likely to be injured or killed by authorities.
("Understanding Implicit Bias). For example, in the Trayvon Martin case, implicit bias played a
great role in the young boys death. When George Zimmerman saw Martin, he most likely felt
fear caused by the implicit bias he harbors. This fear is what led Zimmerman to believe Martin
was threatening his safety, causing him to shoot and kill the boy (Lee). In a study conducted by
the Guardian, it was found that black offenders were arrested thirty six percent more often

compared to white people for crimes such as drug or weapon possession, driving offenses, and
public disorder. This data proves the discrimination minorities face in the criminal justice system
because of implicit racial bias.
In the medical field, studies have shown that doctors are less likely to recommend
minorities to consult specialists, prescribe them pain medication, or screen them for certain
diseases depending on their race (Roberts). In a story told by Melanie Funchess, she talks about
her experience with implicit bias in the medical field. Her husband, an African American male,
was showing signs of a serious disease, but doctors could not figure out a diagnosis. Eventually,
the doctors figured out he had HIV and asked Funchess about his actions. She was sure her
husband had not done anything that would give him HIV and asked if there was any other
possible diagnosis. The doctors said they had checked him for everything they believed a black
person would have. Infuriated, Funchess told them to check her husband for diseases white
people would have. Immediately, they diagnosed him with stage four lung cancer and began
treatment just in time to save his life. Sadly, this womans experience is not unique. Implicit bias
causes many misdiagnoses, improper treatment, and uncomfortable experiences for many
minorities. Access to healthcare may also be compromised, or more difficult to achieve leading
to overall poorer health outcomes, less successful disease management, and increased mortality
rates across all age groups.
In the employment industry, it has been found that employers are less likely to hire a
person of color or someone with a culturally different name, as shown in Juans story.
Additionally, they expect people of color to work less, for less wages, or in worse conditions,
(Desmond-Harris). According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2013,
minorities (black and Hispanic men) made an average of thirty percent less wages compared to

white men for the same job. According to a report done by Demos, more minorities are left with
lower-paid positions and more part-time scheduling. For example, black workers make up eleven
percent of the retail workforce, but only six percent of the managers. Additionally, one in five
black workers are left with part-time and unpredictable scheduling compared to one in seven
white people. Statistics like this prove the disparity among race when it comes to equal wages
and equality in society overall.
In housing, implicit bias plays a role in the neighborhoods people choose to live in, how
they perceive certain neighborhoods, and who people choose to rent or sell their homes to
(Staats). When looking for a home, people take into account the demographics, crime rates,
quality, etcetera. Implicit bias causes home buyers to predominately buy homes in neighborhoods
with demographics similar to their own. This causes more segregation, leading to more implicit
bias in these segregated areas. If implicit bias is not changed, this cycle will continue. When
people see a run-down neighborhood they may automatically assume it is predominantly African
American. This perception is caused by the constant images put into peoples heads of poor,
criminalized African Americans living below the poverty line from the media and society. This
judgment not only affects how people perceive these neighborhoods, but also their opinions
about the people they think live in them. If people think that African Americans live in poor,
neglected neighborhoods, they will be less likely to sell, rent to, or even show them certain
houses. A report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that in
cities across the country, people of color are constantly discriminated against when buying or
renting a home. It was found that on average, minorities are shown twelve percent less homes
compared to white buyers or renters. This discrimination not only affects how minorities find
homes, but also segregation and therefore implicit bias in neighborhoods across the country.

While implicit bias affects many aspects of daily life, certain factors can influence
implicit bias itself, such as age, race, and location. Implicit bias can be found in people of all
ages, from first graders to the elderly. Older people, however, are more likely to have stronger
implicit bias because they have more exposure to it, their opinions have had more time to
develop and become more complex, and generational differences can cause more conservative
views on race (Gonsalkorale; Mooney). In an article written by Chris Mooney, the relationship
between age and results on the Implicit Associations Test was analyzed. The results showed that
people over the age of 65 had stronger preferences for people of their own race.
Although there are exceptions, it is commonly discovered that people have preferences
for those of their own race, or ingroup, and biases against people of other races (Grinberg;
Understanding Implicit Bias). These preferences can be caused by pressure to remain around
people of the same race, which in turn causes more severe bias because of the lack of contact
with people of other races. By constantly staying around people who look, act, and think the
same, people are fueling their own implicit bias.
According to a map recently created by Richard Florida, explicit racism in the form of
racial hate groups are more present in the Western Plain states and the South. If explicit bias is
more prominent in these states, it is likely that the people living there will have stronger implicit
biases due to all of the exposure they have to racism (Capotosto). In another map created by Seth
Stephens-Davidowitz, racism is measured by the amount of Google searches containing the N
slur. Because ones identity and personal information are not revealed through his or her search
results, they are more likely to reflect their uncensored and honest opinions in regards to race.
According to the map, the most racist areas are the South and the Northeast. This data also

correlates with higher mortality rates, worse health, and poorer economic outcomes among
minorities (Ingraham).
Although implicit bias is deeply ingrained in everyones mind, there are ways to decrease
the severity and influence of ones bias. According to Kelly Capotosto, a research assistant at the
Kirwan Institute, being aware of ones bias and its effects, being around people who break
stereotypes, and being acquainted with more diverse groups of people can train ones mind to
become less implicitly biased. By being aware of bias and trying to prevent it from influencing
thoughts and actions, the brain can become trained to not act on automatic biases. By being
around people who break stereotypes and people who look and act differently, people learn that
the stereotypes they believe in are incorrect and that there are good, friendly people that just so
happen to be a different race. In addition to these methods, teaching about different cultures and
races in schools could possibly stop bias before it forms. By teaching children about people that
are different from them, they will become more familiar with others and be less inclined to give
in to stereotypes. If these methods are continued for a long period of time, depending on the
severity of the existing implicit bias, noticeable differences can be seen in the way implicit bias
affects a persons thoughts and actions.
In closing, after analyzing statistics and information from the cited sources, the effects of
implicit bias on various factors of society have been defined, the relationship between implicit
bias and age, race, and location has been proven, and methods to decrease the severity of bias
have been described. Although explicit bias has been significantly changed for the better
throughout the years, it must be changed in order to have a more equal society. By working to
decrease and inhibit bias from the beginning, a more equal future could be in store for future and
existing generations.

Research Methods and Data Collection

The most significant part of understanding implicit racial bias is to understand how is it
created and the factors that can make these thoughts stronger and more effective. In order to see
how age, race, and location strengthen implicit racism, a survey was administered online to
collect firsthand data concerning this question. The survey asked people to take the Implicit
Associations Test to measure the strength of their bias, record their score on the test, age, race,
and which state they live in. The survey was voluntary and taken by anyone who desired to,
though most of the participants were between the ages of 13 and 18, white, and from the
northeast. Since the survey was taken online, the setting was wherever the participants took it,
though setting has little to no impact on the results. The only cause of change in the results would
be how the participants took the Implicit Associations Test. Test takers may have been confused
about how to take the test, confused, or they may not have read the directions properly.
Results and Data Analysis
Once the data was collected, the effect of age, race, and location on implicit racism could
be seen. Although more people in this generation have lower bias, it was still made obvious
through the data that people still have subconscious preferences for certain people, especially
European Americans.

Figure 1: Comparison between IAT score and age

Figure 2: Comparison between IAT score and race

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Figure 3: Comparison between score on IAT and location

As seen in figure 1, there is an obvious trend between the age of a person and the strength
of their bias. In the 13 to 18 age group, it can be seen that most participants had little to no
preference. This is most likely due to the fact that as generations pass, each one becomes less
implicitly and explicitly racist. Continuing further down the spectrum, the amount of people in
this with stronger bias decreases. While this is the same for the 19 to 25 group and the over 50
group, most people between the ages of 36 and 50 were found to had a moderate preference for
European Americans. This could be due to how in the past, racism was much more present and
explicitly expressed. The images of racism exposed to older people were much stronger and
came more frequently.
Although the results in figure 2 are more dispersed, it is clear that most people have a
preference for people who look like them. Those with lighter skin, such as white and Asian
people have more of a preference for European Americans. Those with darker skin, such as
African Americans, have more of a preference for African Americans. This is because of the fact
that at a young age, people are taught that those who look like them are superior. This opinion is
carried with them throughout their life, affecting their relationships, actions, and thoughts. Over
time, a stronger implicit preference for people of their skin color is created, only becoming
harder to get rid of.
It was previously hypothesized that those living in the South, Northeast, or Midwest
would have the most bias compared to other locations. Although most of the data collected was
from the Northeast, it can be seen that the people living in the Midwest and South had some level
of bias. While most of the participants from these regions had little to no preference, many more

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had at least a slight preference for either race. Stronger biases in these regions are more likely
because of how much explicit racism is expressed. When people grow up and live in a place
where explicit bias is frequently expressed, the racist opinions begin to stick in their minds. The
more these opinions are expressed to them, the more they begin to be influenced by them.
Discussion and Conclusion
From the data collected, it is clear that implicit racism is decreasing as time goes on.
However, it is also clear that this country is extremely biased for European Americans. From
each graph, nearly all of the participants had either little to no preference or a preference to
European Americans. From all of this research and data, it is possible to have a deeper
understanding of implicit racism, and therefore more knowledge of how to decrease it.
Hopefully, this information will one day help decrease the amount of implicit bias in everyone so
that future generations can live without the disparity caused by racism.

Works Cited

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