If we define a “bias” as a biologically and culturally embedded inclination influencing our emotions and behavior it should be obvious we all have them… just like all other animals. But a uniquely human characteristic (we think) is the ability to be aware of these subliminal callings and thus be able to do what is necessary to control them. That is, if and when we find the will to do so. What impedes us is the subtlety of these visceral voices often rooted in customs and traditions that make us think they are “natural” and thus “justifiable”.
Many biological inclinations are mostly harmless… such as food tastes, sexual preferences or tribal callings to support a sports team. But when biases lead to self harm or the harming of others they become toxic… and biases due to race, gender or tribe can be some of the worst examples.
History has repeatedly shown creativity, economic productivity, civility, and human welfare in general are all far more likely to flourish in an unbiased, performance based, meritocratic society. Granting authority based on non-performance related aspects of a person’s character not only contradicts what we inherently believe to be fair but undermines the effectiveness and productivity of any institution or business. Biases thus feed social and economic dysfunction and fuel the fires of corruption, discord and social friction.
Origins
Our biases have roots extending to the tribalism that were necessary for our successful evolutionary struggle. They added to tribal cohesion and thus the ability of a tribe to survive the difficult challenges confronting it by dehumanizing or defining as inferior an opposing group. Strong leadership with divine kings and queens or religious and ethnic/ racial identity all served as glue holding tribes together enabling victory over the less strongly defined. Tribes with greater cohesion thrived and spread their genes more widely… thus the biological utility necessary to embed them in our nature. The struggle for survival also frequently necessitated sacrifices for group welfare which often required designation of enemies as a “them” with a lesser human value and making it acceptable to kill or enslave them.
Efforts to overcome biased judgments have led us sometimes to inadvertently exacerbate tensions and injustices we are trying to alleviate. For example, we see outcome disparities in wealth or achievement and often automatically attribute such to biases. But there will always be differences in the level of ability and interests of various individuals and groups that effect differences in outcomes. Before assuming biases as cause we should assure outcome disparities are not just due to these natural differences. Doing otherwise can lead to misdirected social policies resulting in creating more biases by unfairly impacting other groups or classes.
Again, good examples are gender and race. Our search for outcome disparities has led us to a seemingly intractable and increasing tendency to “racialize” or “genderize” (or place in racial/ gender context) just about every social interaction. This exacerbates the general belief that it is important to classify or box people according to perceived racial or gender identity. We do this in spite of the science indicating ethnicity, gender and on often have little to do with performance and thus not valid distinctions.
Boxing people this way is not only counter-productive but stupid. Using race as an example it is counter-productive because racializing inherently exacerbates the social ambiance feeding racism and exists mostly as a hangover from the worst of our past. During slavery, a criterion used to classify people as “colored” and therefore warranting inferior treatment was based on showing their genealogy indicated greater than 1/32nd of a “blood line” traceable to African heritage. And we continue to apply forms of this absurdity today.
And it is stupid because these generalizations or boxes are inherently arbitrary since they conflict with what science tells us about humanity. DNA testing has shown there is greater genetic diversity among sub-Saharan African peoples than in all other peoples of the world. This finding is used to support the widely held contention that homo sapiens evolved in Africa and then migrated out to seed the world. Thus lumping together all those with perceived “African” identity into one box makes less sense than doing the same to all those who are non-African… such as Asians, Europeans, and the many other ethnic groups scattered over our planet.
Manifestations
Further exacerbating the problem, we often resort to patronizing those who are seen as under-represented in some category. Take college admissions. Many colleges still apply differing acceptance criteria between races with the declared goal of balancing the student body. This is done in spite of the seemingly obvious problem that it messages those receiving unearned benefits that they are inferior and unable to compete on a level playing field and stigmatizes their accomplishments as likely unwarranted. Of course many other unworthy factors warp a fair or meritocratic admissions process… such as legacy, parental financial support, sports ability and on. And many other social inequities (like school equality, cultural negativism, etc.) exist that give some benefits not available to others. Thus to make our society more fair or just for the benefit of all we should primarily devote efforts to leveling the playing fields and encouraging all to be the best they can and want to be.
To get out of a hole we must first stop digging. But biases pop up like whack-a-moles often subtly disguised and rationalized with unproven inferences. Racial and other preference programs exist at most large institutions and corporations and are “justified” as necessary to “balance” workplaces or simply as forms of reparations for past discrimination or whatever. But discriminating in favor of one class necessarily does the opposite to another class but the practice has permeated much of our institutions. Stopping the digging will be difficult.
Justifying Ridding out Biases
Martin Luther King said it well decades ago with words to the effect he longed for the day when people would be judged by character rather than the color of their skin. Most accepted this as not only fair but common sense wisdom. Non-performance related discrimination is like throwing sand into the gears that make societies work.
The “Golden Rule” with roots going back to the earliest moral or religious teachings should also help us reason ourselves out of the bias box. We have heard it over and over, but the gist is: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. The Biblical Jesus states in the book of Matthew: “Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.” It would seem self evident that those striving for a greater semblance of civility would prefer to be treated in accordance with their expressed character or behavior… and not arbitrarily based on ethnicity, class or any other non-performance related bias or characteristic.
And then there is the 14th Amendment to our Constitution with its due process and equal protection clauses. It was passed in 1868, but it took 100 years to acknowledge that “equal protection” applied to all… even those of African heritage. It states all “classes” should be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in accordance with “due process”.
Changing deeply rooted behavior patterns is difficult but necessary for the benefit of future humanity and key to our survival as a species. In game theory it would be called a non-zero sum outcome or a win/ win for all (versus zero-sum outcomes where some lose at the expense of others). All societies function more efficiently and productively when people work together in a perceived atmosphere of fairness rather than fractionating and fighting over perceived injustices.
We should continue to push the noodle to prevent backsliding and caving to our visceral prejudices. Our biases will always haunt us from within. Thus we must constantly be prepared to whack the mole wherever it pops up. We must do this to save ourselves from the worst forms of human strife that could threaten not only our own welfare but the welfare of all forms of life… all the other species that not only sustain us but make our lives worth living. Obviously, we have made progress but we must realize it will be an ongoing struggle requiring constant attention and effort. And there is still a long road to travel.
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