Interventions designed to reduce implicit prejudices and implicit stereotypes in real world contexts: a systematic...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Intervention Science

Background:

• Implicit biases are prevalent in society and professional settings, potentially causing discrimination.
• Numerous interventions aim to mitigate implicit bias, but their efficacy is uncertain.
• Systematic reviews are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review interventions designed to reduce implicit bias.
• To assess the effectiveness of various bias reduction techniques.
• To identify promising and unpromising intervention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies published between May 2005 and April 2015.
• Searches conducted in ERIC, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases.
• Inclusion of studies on adults measuring implicit bias using the Implicit Association Test (IAT) or similar methods.

Main Results:

• Thirty eligible articles were identified.
• Exposure to counterstereotypical exemplars showed potential for implicit bias reduction.
• Engaging with others' perspectives appeared ineffective for short-term bias reduction.
• Limited robust data exists for many intervention strategies.

Conclusions:

• Caution is advised regarding current implicit bias reduction programs.
• Individual-level interventions may have limited effectiveness.
• Structural and institutional changes are strongly supported as a means to address bias.