Hidden Bias

After completing my test according to the IAT tests I show a strong preference towards whites. I was surprised by my result, because going into this I agreed that I had a small bias preference towards whites, but I wouldn’t consider myself to have a strong preference. I think I had this result, because I honestly got confused and tried to go fast. I honestly don’t know how I feel about this test because it is a possibility that I do have a strong preference towards European white people and I associate bad things with African American people. The major question I have concerning this assignment is how they get there results? Do they add up the ones you got wrong? I’m curious to know how they come to their conclusions. Also I’m curious to know how this test reflects on my everyday life? Do I always have a strong bias?

I now realize not to take this test as literal as my result and to not assume that I have a strong bias towards whites. I also now understand what it truly means to have “hidden bias” towards someone. I’ve never believed in treating someone different because of the color of their skin but I do agree that people like myself have hidden thoughts in their head about people of a different race. If you see an African American male driving around Deerfield in a very nice car you might assume he’s an athlete or assume a stereotype, purely because of the color of their skin. Although you may not be raciest it still comes to your mind first, it’s the society we live in. I also learned that I am one of those kids that sees an African American male driving a Mercedes and the first thought that pops into my mind is that he is an athlete. I feel ashamed of that, but I can assure you I am not raciest. I know understand the true definition of what it means to have a preference to be around someone of your own race. I agree that people develop prejudice when they are young it is something your born into and when you’re young you have a less developed opinion on subjects. I also agree that people embrace bias after developing a prejudice. Like I said before hidden bias might affect me, because my first thought about a person of different race might be a stereotype.