This class’s readings really opened my eyes to the way “mindbugs” begin, how we can become more aware of them, and how we can combat them. A few things stuck out to me as being particularly interesting. First, I thought the reading did a great job of outlining different types of mindbugs and how they start. For example, it titled the mind as an “automatic association making machine”. In doing this, it shed light on two types of mind bugs: availability and anchoring. The discussion about the words participants read that impacted their moods was eye opening for me. When I read it the first thing I thought about was “If my head is stuck in my phone all day, is this what I want to be anchoring my instinctive reactions to?”
Next, I was especially interested in the difference in knowing and endorsing stereotypes. I thought the reading did a great job of highlighting the differences between the two. Yes, most of us know about stereotypes and biases, but this reading opened my eyes to how much we really endorse the stereotypes even though we aren’t aware of their presence in our minds and the effect they have on our thoughts, opinions, and behaviors. I had heard about the Amadou Diallo tragedy before, but in reading in in this context, anchored to biases and implicit reactions, I immediately turned introspective. What biases do I not even know I hold, and how will they affect not only my conscious decisions, but more importantly my split second decisions that occur in my subconscious mind where my conscious mind doesn’t have time to intervene?
Lastly, I appreciated the way the reading offered examples and ways to combat these biases. The most interesting example to me was the blind audition for the Boston Symphony. It seems amazing to me that at the end of the day, music is music, but it truly took literally blindfolding themselves for decision makers here to be more open to female musicians. As the reading mentioned, knowing we have biases is not enough. We have to actively combat these biases with counter stereotypes. Whether it is in our cultures, or our individual choices, as Dr. Bezio mentioned on the podcast, we have to expose ourselves to situations that contradict our deep biases that dictate our outlook on the world. Being open minded and working to gain attention for counter stereotypes is the only real way to make a change.
I, too, resonated with the points made on stereotyping. What I found to be most interesting was the uncomfortable egalitarians’ concept (located on page 159). I, as a Black student at UR, definitely feel that Richmond is indeed an institution where many white students are uncomfortable egalitarians because while I see many students’ Instagram bios reading “Black Lives Matter,” I do not feel that same support as I navigate the various spaces here on campus- especially as it relates to social life and inconsiderate changes made by UR (i.e., the names of dorms and buildings on campus).
This reading also opened my eyes to how much we all endorse stereotypes. What stuck out to me most about this was how much we can’t really control these stereotypes unless we know what triggers us to apply them. For instance, the author discusses the need to find the root of these mind bugs in order to shut them down when they are brought up.
I also thought it was really interesting how we unconsciously endorse stereotypes, even though we don’t want to and know they are bad. Understanding where the mindbug comes from and trying to be able to shut it down is a super important key to have in your toolbox so that bias doesn’t interfere with decisions we make and things we say.
I love that you brought in the point about how the reading gave examples to oppose the biases. I feel like you can relate biased views to bad habits. They both are easy to develop and tough to change, but the first step to change is acknowledging that there is a problem.