I probably should have formatted these weekly bias threads like this from the start, but, as my delightful Irish roommate says any time I bring up a failing of some kind, “IT’S A PANDEMIC,” so I’m cutting myself some slack. Going forward I’ll share previous biases and add the new one so we can see them all in one place.
Confirmation Bias: the human brain welcomes information that confirms what it already thinks and resists information that disturbs or contradicts what it already thinks.
Complexity Bias: the human brain prefers a simple lie to a complex truth.
3. Community bias: It is very hard to see something your group doesn’t want you to see. This is a form of social confirmation bias.
This week’s bias is from Episode 2 of Learning How to See, which continues to be an incredible podcast and learning experience for me. (If you missed this week’s newsletter, it went out on Sunday and was extremely satisfying to write.)
What is your experience with Community Bias?
*Quidquid recipitur ad modum recipientis recipitur: ”Whatever is received is received according to the manner of the receiver.” We receive things not as they are but as we are.”
As I've shared before, I joined an all-white sorority when I was in college and at no point, despite its radical difference from my HS world did I think, "This is not right and I need to speak up about it." Greek life at my college was created as an insular world. Conformity was encouraged, and because we lived together it was possible to exist almost entirely within the bubble. Seeing something outside the group required intentional seeking and I didn't do that. To this day it's one of my deepest regrets.
I also think this one is seen in more innocuous situations. I've been the only person in a workplace who saw a problem that was a huge obstacle and calling that out was a pretty lonely endeavor, though it eventually proved correct. I've also experienced calling it out and having it readily received and changes made, which was awesome! Think of the spaces where you live, particularly those that help to make up your identity - what's happening there that you may have ceased to see?
As I've shared before, I joined an all-white sorority when I was in college and at no point, despite its radical difference from my HS world did I think, "This is not right and I need to speak up about it." Greek life at my college was created as an insular world. Conformity was encouraged, and because we lived together it was possible to exist almost entirely within the bubble. Seeing something outside the group required intentional seeking and I didn't do that. To this day it's one of my deepest regrets.
I also think this one is seen in more innocuous situations. I've been the only person in a workplace who saw a problem that was a huge obstacle and calling that out was a pretty lonely endeavor, though it eventually proved correct. I've also experienced calling it out and having it readily received and changes made, which was awesome! Think of the spaces where you live, particularly those that help to make up your identity - what's happening there that you may have ceased to see?