Unconscious biases are unintentional social stereotypes about certain groups of people or characteristics. Our biases are influenced by our background, cultural environment and personal experiences. While you might be unaware of your prejudices or prefer not to admit them, your unconscious bias can be considered offensive. This is because your unconscious bias can have a negative impact on your choice of actions, language or behaviour, and may encourage you to make assumptions based on pre-conceived notions.
Examples of unconscious biases include, but are not limited to:
To prevent such stereotypes, a conscious effort should be made to recognise such biases and ensure that you do not act upon them. By making yourself aware of your biases, you can challenge your assumptions against another person and behave accordingly.