Jennifer Eberhardt Biased Essay

1
Muhammad Ibnul-Hassan
Professor McColl
English 101
July 24, 2023 Essay 1

Implicit bias, the subconscious beliefs and stereotypes that influence our perception of others, has been a subject of extensive research in social psychology. Jennifer L. Eberhardt illuminating work “Biased”, she explores into the intricate aspects of implicit bias, shedding light on the mechanisms that lead to its transmissions to young children. This essay examines Eberhardt’s observations with an emphasis on the two primary ways bias is spread

Eberhardt asserts that these biases are not innate but rather learned from observing how adults treat each other. She mentions, “even preschoolers are able to pick up on how adults view other people and quickly too” (38). This highlights the significant role adults play in shaping children’s perceptions of different races or groups. Children are highly perceptive, absorbing social cues and implicit biases from their surroundings. The author poses the question, “I think it’s fear’….How could a first grader pick that up?” (Eberhardt 37). Here, she wonders about the origin of these biases in such young children. It is crucial to recognize that children are like sponges, absorbing information from their environment, and when they witness fear or prejudice towards certain groups,

As Jennifer L. Eberhardt notes in "Biased" (pp. 39), children frequently learn about the world via the eyes of their parents. Children look forward to and imitate their parents as role models from an early age, picking up on their attitudes, values, and beliefs. Children closely follow their parents' reactions, especially when they are in strange situations, according to Eberhardt. The likelihood of a kid internalizing a parent’s fear or discomfort when interacting with someone from a different race, culture, or background is increased. Parents frequently are unaware that their implicit biases are influencing their children’s worldviews as this process happens subtly. Consequently, children may grow up with the same biased attitudes, perpetuating the cycle of implicit bias across generations. In order to foster a more diverse and equal society for coming generations, parents urgently need to evaluate and address their own biases, as highlighted by Eberhardt’s research on the substantial effects of parental transmission of unconscious bias. The nonverbal actions of characters in the media can have an impact on older children and adults, resulting in something called “bias contagion.” As described in “Biased” by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, the ability of the media in transmitting implicit biases onto parents and older children is a significant concern. Media, including television shows,