Unconscious Bias is Everywhere!
I went to the optometrist recently and had an amazing and enlightening conversation with him. And as an autistic introvert, the fact that I had a conversation at all is pretty impressive. I had finished all of the eye exams, including my favorite part where you do the comparisons between two lens settings while feeling like you're some sort of cyborg getting your eyes configured. You know what I'm talking about "Number one, or number two.... number one... number two..." I honestly look forward to this for the same reason I dread it, that need to compare two things and decide which is "better." I'll admit, I always had a secret fear that the optometrist already knew which one was better, and would know when I was wrong. If any of you share that fear... Proceed with caution.
My wife was next , and while she had her exam I had unconscious biases on my mind. Not that this is an odd thing, I often have biases on my mind. I teach about biases regularly because I honestly believe that trying to fight against unconscious biases is one of the most important things we can do to better ourselves. I also always make sure to point out that understanding bias, and fighting against bias are very different things. Even if you've been studying and teaching about biases for years you still have to fight against them every day. And let me tell you, I've got some proof of that.
I "casually" commented to the doctor that I imagine he had to deal with a lot of unconscious bias in these exams, and his response was not at all what I was expecting. He said "I don't know, what is unconscious bias?"
After resisting the urge to take him on an unexpected detour to Info Dump Land, I gave a brief description and the example of the anchoring bias where the first thing you hear is given more weight than the second. He said that is something he is constantly dealing with! Because, as it turns out, the doctor does already know which settings are more likely to be better. Most of that part of the eye exam is the doctor trying to figure out if they are correct and you are biased if you disagree, or if there is something that needs changed and you are biased if you don't disagree.
My doctor talked about how he regularly uses different numbers than the standard one or two because people regularly pick number one even if it is worse, how he will give a set of lens settings in one order, use pointless settings for the next test, then give the first set in the opposite order and many people will still just pick the first one. I had to ask how I did, and he said I came in about average but absolutely had several cases of clear anchor bias during the exam. So there you go, years of practice and I still fall for the anchor bias as much as anyone. Don't mention this part to my wife, he might have said she did above average.
As I was leaving I asked him how much of his schooling was focused on looking for and compensating for bias, and once again didn't see the answer coming. He said "None. No one ever talked about anything like this. I had to figure it out when I started working."
If someone whose job has a huge focus on understanding and compensating for unconscious bias has never even heard of the term, we need to be talking about it more. So lets talk! What do you wish people understood more about bias? Heck, what do YOU wish you understood more about bias? (I make no promises about detours to Info Dump Land) What is a bias you are extra aware of because of how it has affected your life? Why would anyone ever be bitter about their wife doing better at not having biases in an eye exam? Wo else will be forever scarred knowing there is a right and wrong answer to the eye exam and THEY KNOW? I want to hear about it!