Understanding Unconscious Bias
On Human Rights Day, we are reminded that human rights are upheld not only through laws, but through everyday attitudes and behaviours. Unconscious bias plays a powerful role in how dignity, equality, and inclusion are experienced.
What is unconscious bias?
Unconscious bias involves automatic, often unexamined assumptions shaped by upbringing, culture, and experience. While a normal part of how the brain processes information, these biases can affect behaviour and decisions in ways that limit fairness, opportunity, and inclusion.
Common forms of unconscious bias
Unconscious bias can take many forms:
Affinity bias, preferring people similar to ourselves
Confirmation bias, focusing on information that supports existing beliefs
Gender bias, making assumptions about roles or capability
Age bias, judging people as too young or too old
Cultural or racial bias, misinterpreting behaviour or communication styles
Because these biases operate automatically, they are often difficult to recognise without conscious reflection.
How unconscious bias affects the workplace
In the workplace, unconscious bias can shape everyday interactions and decision making, influencing whose ideas are valued and who is trusted or supported. Over time, this can reinforce inequality and undermine trust, culture, and engagement.
The impact on mental health and wellbeing
Experiencing bias, even in subtle or indirect ways, can have a meaningful impact on mental health. Feeling overlooked, stereotyped or excluded can increase stress, lower confidence and create a sense of not belonging. When these experiences are repeated, the emotional toll can accumulate and contribute to burnout or disengagement.
Creating inclusive environments is therefore not only a diversity objective, but a mental health and wellbeing responsibility.
Practical ways to reduce unconscious bias
While unconscious bias cannot be eliminated, it can be managed by slowing down decisions and questioning assumptions. Actively listening, seeking diverse perspectives, and remaining open to feedback help interrupt automatic thinking.
A shared human rights responsibility
Human rights are grounded in respect, fairness, and equal opportunity. Addressing unconscious bias is one way of turning these values into everyday practice. As we mark Human Rights Day, it is a valuable moment to reflect on how our daily interactions shape the environments we create.
At PROCARE, we believe that increasing awareness of unconscious bias supports healthier workplaces, stronger relationships, and the protection of human dignity.