Summary of Blindspot
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Recommendation
Are you reluctant to admit your shortcomings – especially if those shortcomings reflect poorly on your character? Most people are. If you consider yourself fair-minded and nonjudgmental, you might be shocked to learn that you hold prejudices against a particular race, ethnicity or social group. Psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald collaborate on this intriguing, eye-opening book. In 1994, Greenwald created the Implicit Association Test (IAT), which assesses bias and has had millions of respondents. The authors studied many of these test answers and learned that bias is widespread and commonplace. Pointing to a misalignment between good intentions and actual behavior, they find that people are seldom cognizant of their mental “blindspots” where automatic biases – “mindbugs” – take root. Although the authors occasionally bog down in research-related details, getAbstract recommends their insights to students of the human mind who aren’t afraid to look into a mirror.
In this book, you will learn
- What “mindbugs” are and how they affect thinking;
- Why most people possess “blindspots” – hidden prejudices; and
- How the Implicit Association Tests reveal racial, ethnic and social biases.
About the Authors
Mahzarin R. Banaji teaches social ethics in the department of psychology at Harvard University. Anthony G. Greenwald teaches psychology at the University of Washington.
