ABSTRACT
This chapter examines subconscious/implicit bias and how it can affect people in organizations. It explores research findings on implicit bias, the implicit association test that is used to measure implicit bias, and presents recommendations for mitigating implicit bias in organizations. Research shows that when cognitive associations are made and reinforced based on past behaviors or information, that information gets stored in the subconscious and is ready to be primed into activation. The Implicit Association Test is a validated test of subconscious bias. It appears that when conscious processing is depleted, subconscious processing takes over and more biases emerge. It is possible for people to have implicit bias against their own group if there are negative social stereotypes about that group which have accumulated in one's mind. The plaintiffs' argued that implicit bias was present in decision-making and that the State of Iowa failed to comply with its rules and regulations designed to prevent adverse impact against African-Americans.
