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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
09:03
Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement (PMSM), for Investigating Implicit Social Bias
Published on: February 29, 2020
Implicit biases change more slowly in larger cities
1The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Summary
Implicit bias change is influenced by cultural exposure, with slower changes observed in larger cities. This theory suggests one-off interventions are less effective in urban environments.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Quantitative Theory
Background:
- Implicit biases continue to drive discrimination despite societal progress.
- Existing quantitative theories on bias change are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a quantitative theory of implicit bias change.
- To explore the geographical variation in the speed of bias change.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 14 million implicit bias tests from U.S. residents over 14 years.
- Utilizing experimental data from 1,150 individuals.
Main Results:
- Implicit bias change is slower in larger cities.
- One-off interventions show reduced effectiveness in larger urban areas.
Conclusions:
- Cultural information exposure influences implicit bias dynamics.
- Understanding bias change timescales is crucial for effective intervention design.
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