Responding to Microaggressions and Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
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Responding to Microaggressions and Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
Practice how to respond effectively in the workplace to microaggressions and bias through many real-life scenarios.
Topics include understanding microaggressions, unconscious bias, and the brain science of bias.
Click on the question titles below to preview the question stem on the right.
1. Microaggression definition >
2. Types of microaggressions >
3. Intersectionality >
4. Healing a microaggression >
5. Confirmation bias >
6. Attribution Bias >
7. Dangers of bias >
8. Confirmational Bias >
9. Association tendency >
10. System 1 & 2 >
11. Bias and the brain >
12. Implicit bias & predictive brain >
Follow the interactions on each screen to answer Qstream questions as a Participant.
Steve and a few colleagues are meeting Chad, a client, for lunch at a local restaurant. Initially, the conversation is light and focuses on what movies and shows they’re watching on Netflix. Steve says “I like dramas, but what I’m really into is Schmigadoon- especially all of the parodies of classic musical numbers.” Chad replies, “That’s so gay!” Steve looks at Chad in disbelief, but Chad just continues talking about other shows.
Chad’s statement is considered a microaggression because bias is expressed in which of the following manners?
Answer explanation:
Tobias and Mia are catching up during a break and swapping stories. Tobias says, “Last week, “someone” from legal told me ‘You’re so smart for a woman.’” Mia responds, “That’s bad, but what I find more offensive is when people do that kind of stuff- without even speaking a word.” Tobias replies, “What do you mean, I thought a microaggression was something you said?”
An example of a behavioral microaggression at work includes which of the following?
Answer explanation:
Intersectionality in the workplace is a concept in cultural bias and microaggressions that relates to the intersection of which of the following?
Answer explanation:
During a team meeting, Robert makes a microaggressive comment to Angelica by saying, “That’s a really good idea, especially coming from a woman.” Angelica immediately responds, “That’s a sexist comment. My idea is good and me being a woman has nothing to do with it.”
Which of the following actions should Robert take to effectively respond to Angelica?
Answer explanation:
Jonathan is leading an interview panel for a new associate with three of his colleagues. The panel consists of Jack from Operations, William from Customer Services, and Adam, his one up. All four men are white and have degrees from private universities. In the final stage of the interview process, there are three candidates left- all equally qualified for the position.
• Santiago, a Hispanic male with a degree from a prestigious state university
• Leo, a white male with a degree from a small, private college
• Carolyn, a black female with a degree from a large, private university
The interview team is all favoring Leo over the other two candidates. This type of bias is known as which of the following?
Answer explanation:
Sean has started his project meeting with everyone present except Briana, one of the subject matter experts. Although Sean is irritated not to have her present, the rest of the project members begin discussing how to drive the project forward. As they do so, Sean thinks to himself that Briana just doesn’t work as hard as the rest of the team, as shown by her absence at this meeting.
Seven minutes after the meeting started, Briana quietly enters the room and Sean says, “Hi Briana, we all made the effort to arrive on time and we need you to do the same.”
Sean is conveying ______ bias.
Answer explanation:
Bias in the workplace often leads to which of the following?
Answer explanation:
Soo Yen is a manager with seven people on her team. Last month, Santiago was transferred to her team during her department’s restructuring. He has struggled to work as efficiently as the rest of her team during this time, as his previous team worked on different projects. Soo Yen believes that Hispanic men are generally not capable, which is currently being demonstrated by Santiago’s performance.
Soo Yen’s bias may show up in which of the following ways when she is managing Santiago?
Answer explanation:
Richard and Ben, regional hiring managers, are reviewing candidates for a senior manager position. They’ve narrowed the list to five, who are all qualified.
Ben says, “These two are my top choices.”
Richard replies, “I like them both as well, and Jamal is my top pick. I’m not sure about Helen. I mean, she’s great, but I don’t know if she’d be willing to relocate like I’m sure Jamal would. You know, a woman’s family obligations and all.”
Ben responds, “Really, have you thought about what you’re actually saying?”
Richard is showing a bias against Helen based on the associations he has with females, not on her qualifications and circumstances. According to brain science, it is _________ possible for Richard to change his bias.
Answer explanation:
Rebecca is meeting an associate, Henry, for the first time. Within the first few seconds, before he even speaks, her brain has made an unconscious impression of him. In this case, she assumes that because he’s wearing a suit, he’s intelligent.
Which of the following parts of the brain is driving Rebecca’s bias?
Answer explanation:
Our brains being able to differentiate between people who are like us and those that are “others” is associated with which of the following type of neurons?
Answer explanation:
Tracy is calling a new customer, Alex, to check on the status of an order. When a female answers, Tracy asks to speak with Alex, and the person on the phone responds, “I’m Alex.” Tracy is momentarily confused because she was expecting to talk to a man named Alex (short for Alexander), not a woman (short for Alexandria).
Who among the following, in addition to Tracy, holds this implicit bias related to the gender of names?
Answer explanation:
Steve and a few colleagues are meeting Chad, a client, for lunch at a local restaurant. Initially, the conversation is light and focuses on what movies and shows they’re watching on Netflix. Steve says “I like dramas, but what I’m really into is Schmigadoon- especially all of the parodies of classic musical numbers.” Chad replies, “That’s so gay!” Steve looks at Chad in disbelief, but Chad just continues talking about other shows.
Chad’s statement is considered a microaggression because bias is expressed in which of the following manners?
Answer explanation:
Tobias and Mia are catching up during a break and swapping stories. Tobias says, “Last week, “someone” from legal told me ‘You’re so smart for a woman.’” Mia responds, “That’s bad, but what I find more offensive is when people do that kind of stuff- without even speaking a word.” Tobias replies, “What do you mean, I thought a microaggression was something you said?”
An example of a behavioral microaggression at work includes which of the following?
Answer explanation:
Intersectionality in the workplace is a concept in cultural bias and microaggressions that relates to the intersection of which of the following?
Answer explanation:
During a team meeting, Robert makes a microaggressive comment to Angelica by saying, “That’s a really good idea, especially coming from a woman.” Angelica immediately responds, “That’s a sexist comment. My idea is good and me being a woman has nothing to do with it.”
Which of the following actions should Robert take to effectively respond to Angelica?
Answer explanation:
Jonathan is leading an interview panel for a new associate with three of his colleagues. The panel consists of Jack from Operations, William from Customer Services, and Adam, his one up. All four men are white and have degrees from private universities. In the final stage of the interview process, there are three candidates left- all equally qualified for the position.
• Santiago, a Hispanic male with a degree from a prestigious state university
• Leo, a white male with a degree from a small, private college
• Carolyn, a black female with a degree from a large, private university
The interview team is all favoring Leo over the other two candidates. This type of bias is known as which of the following?
Answer explanation:
Sean has started his project meeting with everyone present except Briana, one of the subject matter experts. Although Sean is irritated not to have her present, the rest of the project members begin discussing how to drive the project forward. As they do so, Sean thinks to himself that Briana just doesn’t work as hard as the rest of the team, as shown by her absence at this meeting.
Seven minutes after the meeting started, Briana quietly enters the room and Sean says, “Hi Briana, we all made the effort to arrive on time and we need you to do the same.”
Sean is conveying ______ bias.
Answer explanation:
Bias in the workplace often leads to which of the following?
Answer explanation:
Soo Yen is a manager with seven people on her team. Last month, Santiago was transferred to her team during her department’s restructuring. He has struggled to work as efficiently as the rest of her team during this time, as his previous team worked on different projects. Soo Yen believes that Hispanic men are generally not capable, which is currently being demonstrated by Santiago’s performance.
Soo Yen’s bias may show up in which of the following ways when she is managing Santiago?
Answer explanation:
Richard and Ben, regional hiring managers, are reviewing candidates for a senior manager position. They’ve narrowed the list to five, who are all qualified.
Ben says, “These two are my top choices.”
Richard replies, “I like them both as well, and Jamal is my top pick. I’m not sure about Helen. I mean, she’s great, but I don’t know if she’d be willing to relocate like I’m sure Jamal would. You know, a woman’s family obligations and all.”
Ben responds, “Really, have you thought about what you’re actually saying?”
Richard is showing a bias against Helen based on the associations he has with females, not on her qualifications and circumstances. According to brain science, it is _________ possible for Richard to change his bias.
Answer explanation:
Rebecca is meeting an associate, Henry, for the first time. Within the first few seconds, before he even speaks, her brain has made an unconscious impression of him. In this case, she assumes that because he’s wearing a suit, he’s intelligent.
Which of the following parts of the brain is driving Rebecca’s bias?
Answer explanation:
Our brains being able to differentiate between people who are like us and those that are “others” is associated with which of the following type of neurons?
Answer explanation:
Tracy is calling a new customer, Alex, to check on the status of an order. When a female answers, Tracy asks to speak with Alex, and the person on the phone responds, “I’m Alex.” Tracy is momentarily confused because she was expecting to talk to a man named Alex (short for Alexander), not a woman (short for Alexandria).
Who among the following, in addition to Tracy, holds this implicit bias related to the gender of names?
