Awareness As a First Step Toward Overcoming Implicit Bias

Abstract

In this book chapter, Cynthia Lee explains that raising awareness of implicit bias is a necessary first step toward eliminating such bias. Lee discusses various ways legal actors can raise awareness about implicit bias, including implicit bias trainings and jury instructions attempting to educate jurors about implicit bias. She concludes that making racial bias (or other types of bias) salient is probably the most effective way to raise awareness of implicit bias in the courtroom setting and discusses the social science literature that supports this conclusion. In light of some studies suggesting that making bias salient may backfire, she suggests that making bias salient may be more effective in certain environments where the decision maker has sufficient time to deliberate, such as jury deliberations, as opposed to other environments where the decision maker has little time to deliberate and has to make a quick decision.