Bias

We all have bias. It could for or against or even neutral to absolutely any idea. Biases could be cognitive ,  prejudice , contextual , statistical and maybe a few more adjectives could define bias. Most of the time one is not aware that the behaviour exhibited is coloured with bias. The question then is should we put in the effort to understand the bias we may have and if so what is the resultant outcome. 

Allow me to take you on a short journey to identify at the very least some bias  that you may have. Identification of the biases is a difficult and a very tedious journey, we can however identify a few in a short span of time. Start by listing a bunch of your hero’s (be honest) when done look at the list and put down traits that you admire in those hero’s; there could be more than one against each name. When done look at the traits that are common. That list of traits will identify behaviour that you appreciate and like ; for now themoral or ethical implication of the trait is not important.  This list of traits will help you identify the most prominent biases you have. It might not be good reading especially if the trait is something that goes against the moral and ethical construct you believe you have.  Why this journey ? Which has the potential to throw up possibly some unpleasant truths about yourself.  

To evolve into something better is nature. Learning about one’s biases would help one identify them and if necessary take corrective action especially when the bias is at odds with the moral and ethical construct one follows.  There are those whose biases are perfectly in alignment with the moral and ethical construct they have; however the moral and ethical construct is at odds with the construct followed by the immediate society and or humanity as a whole. Ethics and morality are complex ideas that are best summed up as “concepts of behaviour” and the identification of the potential outcome of the behaviour (good, bad, evil , right, wrong etc). They are at the end points of view. 

Learning about our bias allows us the potential for rapid and huge growth. I know about some of my biases and am currently trying to identify the ones that are not so obvious. The ones that I know about; a few i can live with the others I am making the effort to change.  

C