{"id":28362,"date":"2022-03-11T01:08:47","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T09:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=28362"},"modified":"2022-03-11T01:08:47","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T09:08:47","slug":"blind-spots-redux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/blind-spots-redux\/","title":{"rendered":"Blind Spots Redux"},"content":{"rendered":"

It seems our readings have had a theme the past couple of weeks\u2014blind spots. Last week it was the challenge of recognizing the limitations of an economic system that has enveloped the world. This week it is the challenge of recognizing one\u2019s own implicit or unconscious biases. Pragya Agarwal\u2014British behavioral and data scientist, activist, and journalist\u2014wrote Sway <\/em>in the hope that \u201c\u2026by addressing the biases at the individualistic level, we can begin to understand the societal and structural inequities and injustices.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Sway<\/em>\u2019s argument is based on neuro, evolutionary, and behavioral science. Her grounding in these fields recalls previous authors we have read whose theses are also supported by research in these fields\u2014especially Thinking, Fast and Slow<\/em> by Daniel Kahneman.<\/p>\n

Overall, given Agarwal\u2019s focus on the social and political implications of implicit bias, I would classify this book under the social sciences. Structured with an introduction, four main sections, an epilogue, appendix, references, and index, Agarwal robustly develops her argument\u2014we all carry within us unconscious biases. Agarwal\u2019s commitment is to compassionately, but rigorously explore how human beings develop unconscious\/implicit biases (she uses the terms interchangeably), the purposes these types of biases serve (especially when they create \u201cprejudice and discriminatory behaviour [sic<\/em>] through a negative association with a certain group or community\u201d[2]<\/a>), and offer suggestions for how one can begin to address one\u2019s biases.<\/p>\n

I found most intriguing Agarwal\u2019s description of our brains. She writes, \u201cOur brains have evolved to reason adaptively rather than rationally or truthfully.\u201d[3]<\/a> In other words, to survive, human beings have had to adapt to the changing world around them. Human beings have had to quickly assess potential or actual dangers and react, rather than reason.[4]<\/a> This fast, intuitive thinking (remember Kahneman) and decision making mostly happens beyond our conscious awareness.[5]<\/a> Agarwal references Kahneman\u2019s work with his long-time thinking and writing partner, Amos Tversky.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

In my NPO reading, I investigated Jean Patterson\u2019s research on sensemaking and intercultural competency.[7]<\/a> She writes: \u201cSensemaking is driven by plausibility more than accuracy; believable, reasonable and coherent versions of reality are more important than facts.\u201d[8]<\/a> Her point is that our social context and narrative influences how we understand reality to a greater degree than do rational facts. Agarwal\u2019s work adds another dimension to Patterson\u2019s point\u2014the unconscious and implicit dimension of our biases that are driven by our evolutionary need to survive perceived threats.<\/p>\n

How might we begin to become aware of these less than rational biases that drive our perceptions of reality in a more powerful way than do facts? Agarwal prescribes Kahneman\u2019s System 2 thinking: \u201cTaking our time with important decisions can help us de-automatize. This means that we do not fall back on our unconscious biases, but instead activate our logical and rational thinking and actively bust any biases that can affect our decisions.\u201d[9]<\/a> This is the same prescription given by Patterson: \u201cIntercultural communication competence then is the ability to deliberately and consciously examine one\u2019s own ways of thinking and acting in order to develop strategies appropriate for each intercultural interaction.\u201d[10]<\/a><\/p>\n

As I continue to develop my NPO and test my prototypes, taking implicit\/unconscious bias into account will be important to helping participants move from reactionary postures to thoughtful engagement with one another across cultural contexts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Agarwal, Pragya. 2021. Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias<\/em>. London: Bloomsbury Sigma, 24.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Ibid., 13.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Ibid., 44.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ibid., 30.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Ibid., 29ff.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Ibid., 417, 426.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Patterson, Jean A. 2009. \u201cOrganisational Learning and Leadership: On Metaphor, Meaning Making, Liminality and Intercultural Communication.\u201d International Journal of Learning and Change<\/em> 3, no. 4: 382\u201393. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1504\/IJLC.2009.026220<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Ibid., 386.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Agarwal, 411.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Patterson, 387.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It seems our readings have had a theme the past couple of weeks\u2014blind spots. Last week it was the challenge of recognizing the limitations of an economic system that has enveloped the world. This week it is the challenge of recognizing one\u2019s own implicit or unconscious biases. Pragya Agarwal\u2014British behavioral and data scientist, activist, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2244,1937,2253,2052,2254,2245],"class_list":["post-28362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-agarwal","tag-blind-spots","tag-implicit-bias","tag-kahneman","tag-patterson","tag-sway","cohort-lgp11"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28362"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28363,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28362\/revisions\/28363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}