Unconscious biases are automatic attitudes or stereotypes about people based on characteristics like race, gender, age, or background. These biases influence our judgments and decisions without our awareness. Stacey Gordon highlights that such biases affect hiring, promotions, teamwork, and daily interactions. Recognizing them is the first step toward creating fairer and more inclusive environments.
Common types include affinity bias (favoring people similar to oneself), confirmation bias (seeking information that confirms existing beliefs), and gender or racial bias. Awareness and structured decision-making can significantly reduce their impact.
The humor effect is a cognitive phenomenon where people remember information better when it is presented in a humorous or engaging way. Humor captures attention, reduces stress, and strengthens positive emotions, all of which improve memory retention. For example, training sessions or workshops that use funny examples or anecdotes are often more memorable and effective.
When applied thoughtfully, humor can enhance creativity, foster better collaboration, and make discussions about sensitive topics, like biases, easier and less confrontational.
A practical strategy to reduce unconscious bias is to combine structured decision-making with humor-based engagement. For example, teams can use light-hearted icebreaker activities before discussions or evaluations to make participants more open to diverse perspectives.
In hiring or performance reviews, using clear evaluation rubrics alongside interactive, humorous exercises encourages fairness while keeping the environment positive and inclusive.