Today’s Reflection- Be Careful What You See
con·fir·ma·tion bi·as
The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.
Perfect Example:
Bus seats mistaken for burqas by members of anti-immigrant group –https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/02/bus-seats-mistaken-burqas-anti-immigrant-group-norwegian
She is a sweet and cute girl– who could be smiling to your face and then gossip up a storm behind your back
He looks like a bum. Get a job. – In actuality may be dealing with severe depression, other mental illness, and / or trauma yet would give the shirt off his back to someone who needed it.
He is dressed in a suit– must be highly successful, educated, and important, but in actuality could be a narcissistic scam artist and an asshole.
He has tattoos and colored spiked hair– must be a thug, but in actuality could be a compassionate humanitarian.
A black guy wearing a hoodie– can even be killed for it. Must be a thug / gang member
She is speaking in another language– must be illegal. Go back to your country. In actuality she is an American who was born here and is simply bilingual which isn’t illegal to be. Or someone who just migrated to the U.S. and is currently learning English.
She is young and attractive– this must be why she is successful. In actuality she is educated, dedicated, and worked hard to get where she is.
OR- She is young and attractive- must be brainless
She is young. What could she know. I’ve been on this earth much longer. – Wisdom doesn’t always comes through age.
You get the point- perceptions, stereotypes, confirmation biases, generalizations, prejudices, discrimination, racism, sexism, ageism, etc.
Things aren’t always as they seem…… Let’s continue to be mindful of this.
Thuy Smith Outreach 