Unlocking the Brain: 4 Key Takeaways on Implicit Bias

By Holly Palmero

In a recent workshop, Holly, an educator and CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult), took us on a journey through the science of the brain to understand implicit bias. Her message was clear: to grow, we must be "comfortable with being uncomfortable".

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Here is a quick breakdown of the science behind how we think and how we can change.
1. Your Brain Has "Mind Bugs"
Our brains are designed to be efficient. When we perceive the world, our brains latch onto information and interpret it based on patterns we already know. If there are gaps in the information, the brain automatically fills them in to make sense of the situation,. These "mind bugs" can lead to errors in memory and reasoning, often without us realizing it.
2. Associations Are Built on 4 factors
Why does the brain make specific connections? It relies on associations built through four factors:

• Experience

• Exposure

• Environment

• Repetition

These factors create the shortcuts our brains use to process the world. For example, some may associate a "Deaf School" with "home," while others associate it with "trauma" based entirely on their past exposure.

3. Biology Overrules Logic
The brain develops in sequence from the bottom up:

• Brain Stem: Survival and automatic functions (the "reptile brain").

• Cortex: Critical thinking and complex thought.

Trauma and survival instincts reside in the rigid brain stem. When triggered, the brain reacts for survival (fight, flight, or freeze) before the critical thinking cortex can even process the situation,. This helps us shift our perspective from asking "What’s wrong with you?" to asking "What happened to you?".

4. Implicit Bias vs. Prejudice
It is vital to distinguish between the two:

• Prejudice is conscious dislike of a specific group.

• Implicit Bias is unconscious. It refers to hidden associations that can contradict our conscious values, such as a female leader unconsciously associating leadership with men due to societal conditioning.

The Solution: Neuroplasticity

The good news is that we are not stuck. Through neuroplasticity, the brain can change and create new pathways. We can rewrite our associations through intentional repetition and by building authentic relationships with people from different backgrounds. By changing our environment and exposures, we change our brains.