When conflicting biases remain hidden to us, there is a problem because biases direct our actions and judgements in life. Challenges occur when we hold conflicting biases. An example is when one person says they expect privacy for themselves but denies it to other people. We are all susceptible to contradictions like this until we question ourselves.
It’s easy to know when our biases need examination. Feelings of righteousness, frustration, and sometimes outright anger arise when we hear something that disagrees with what we think is right or what we want to be right.
Reading the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s definition of bias gave me clues of things to watch for within myself. Bias: A subjective opinion, preference, prejudice, or inclination, often formed without reasonable justification, which influences the ability of an individual or group to evaluate a We can’t say it to the future. particular situation objectively or accurately.
We can’t see into the future, but we can look back and compare ideas with results. The reward of reflection is consistency in our thoughts and actions. Awareness of our bias is important to the development of our worldview. The first step toward removing conflict is to look at an array of attitudes to identify and rid us of inconsistencies. Someone may tell us how to think, but let’s make sure the actions we take are those we agree with, not what we have been told to do.
Next week, the hows and whys of establishing a worldview.
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