Lisa notes

Are You Aware of Your Racial Bias? {Bias Day 19}
+ Grace & Truth Linkup

By LisaNotes February 19, 2021 Grace & Truth Link-Up, Hidden Biases 7 Comments

We looked at four more biases this week in the series, “I Just Can’t See It!: How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”

Fundamental Attribution Error
Declinism
Framing Effect
Contact Bias

Each bias can affect many areas of our lives.

Today let’s look at one specific area that these biases can trick us: our views on racial inequity.

None of us likes to think we are racist. But because we’re human, we all have invisible biases we’re unaware of.

How can we eliminate our racial biases? It takes time and work to unravel our implicit biases.

But even before the time and work? We need awareness. And prayer.

Overcoming Our Biases in Racial Inequity

Reflect on each of these biases. Can you awaken your awareness on one or all of these? How might they be affecting you?

(1) You’re Bad But I’m Just Stressed—Fundamental Attribution Error {Bias 15}

FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR is when you assume other people have a character flaw if they make a mistake, whereas it’s just the circumstances if you make the mistake.

If you don’t finish the work in time, it’s because you had too much to do. But if a person of color doesn’t finish in time, do you assume they’re just lazy?

Being accused of laziness is just one of many common fundamental attributions that people of color have to fight against.

Can you question which stereotypes you assign to different groups of people so that you can erase them, and begin seeing each individual as an individual? Slow down your thinking and see how this bias might be trapping you.

(2) Are Things Really Worse Now?—Declinism {Bias 16}

DECLINISM is the tendency to view the past as better than the present.

But when we look back at our history in the United States, we see massive atrocities carried out by white people against Black people and Indigenous people of color from our very founding.

Racial inequality continues to exist to this day. So although we’re not yet finished with the work, we’re overall moving in the right direction.

When you go down the reflective road of the “good old days,” make sure you caveat exactly how and who they were better for. Appreciate the wonderful things that did occur in the past, but watch your blanket statements that life was better then and is worse now.

(3) How the Frame Influences the Painting—Framing Effect {Bias 17}

FRAMING EFFECT is when we’re unduly influenced by the way information is framed.

For example, look at the marches for racial equality that occurred in the summer of 2020. Depending on your news source, you may have heard them framed as “riots” or you may have heard them framed as “peaceful protests.”

If you don’t know which frame your favorite source is using, read from opposite sources and you’ll likely see a stark contrast.

Jesus invited his followers to see truth through the parables he told. He wanted them to think about spiritual matters in a different way than they’d always believed. We, too, need to break out of stereotypical molds that may have sculpted our thoughts.

Get your information first hand as much as possible, before it gets too packaged for a certain audience. Otherwise, be willing to sift through the frames to unveil the nuggets of truth you need to make this world a better place for everyone.

(4) When You Don’t Know the Other—Contact Bias {Bias 18}

CONTACT BIAS is believing false information about a person or people that you’ve never had meaningful contact with.

We’re naturally prone to be wary of strangers. And depending on where we live or work or worship, we may have little contact with anyone who is not like us. Thus, there are many “strangers” in the world.

Fight this bias by getting to know people who are different from you. If you can’t do it in person (which is typically the best way to get to know people), do it in other ways. Read about other cultures. Watch documentaries. Listen to friends who have relationships with different people.

Jesus broke down cultural barriers when he was here. He treated everyone with dignity and none like “strangers.” We’re called to do the same.

Now Let’s Link Up!

How do you become aware of any racial biases you may have? Please share in the comments.

You are on Day 19 of the series: “How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”

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Previous: Contact Bias {Bias Day 18}
“When You Don’t Know the Other”

Next: 5 Quotes About Bias {Bias Day 20}
“Cast Off One’s Chains”

When You Don’t Know the Other—Contact Bias {Bias Day 18}

By LisaNotes February 18, 2021 Discrimination, Hidden Biases 8 Comments

What is contact bias?

Contact bias is when we can’t relate to another because we’ve had no sustained personal contact with them. Whether due to lack of opportunity or lack of willingness, no interactions exist.

Our prejudices are then free to flourish without hindrance. If we’ve developed false assumptions, they go unchallenged.

What’s an example of contact bias?

The new stranger in town is often given the side eye.

Here’s a personal example. I grew up in a small town in the south where most of my neighbors and schoolmates were Protestant Christians. We developed stereotypes against Catholics because we didn’t know any. When a family of Catholics moved into the neighborhood with girls my age, I was initially afraid to go into their house. I expected everything to be different and scary. (Update: it wasn’t. They were a normal family. We became fast friends.)

Another example involves wealth hierarchies. Shane Claiborne often says, “It’s not that the rich hate the poor, it’s that the rich don’t even know the poor.” Because some people who are rich don’t have friends who are poor, they can’t see the world through the eyes of a person who is poor.

Politics is another example. Many Republicans (or Democrats) have friend groups with only other Republicans (or Democrats). Because they have no friends in the other party, they distrust them and stereotype them as “mean” or “immoral.” (Which in turn becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy and prevents friendships from developing because who wants to befriend someone who labels you “mean” or “immoral”?)

Why do we have contact bias?

Sometimes it’s handed down from generation to generation. Because the United States has centuries of practicing prejudice against Black people, many white people grow up in families who still look down on Black people as lesser. They refuse to open the door to friendships with Blacks, so they don’t outgrow their prejudices.

Other times it’s more subtle. Systemic racism, for example, is built near-invisibly into many systems, preventing cross-over relationships. Maybe your white church is open to all people, but you only do church there in traditional white ways, making people of color or other nationalities feel uncomfortable if they visit. Your church remains predominantly white as a result, reducing opportunities for contact with others. And if you don’t in turn step out to visit Black churches, everyone remains in their perspective corners.

It’s normal to want to avoid uncertainty. It’s easier to stay with people we’re already familiar with than to venture out into new territory. We’re not good at being inclusive because it makes us uncomfortable.

Is contact bias bad?

When we treat others who are different from us with less dignity than people who are similar to us, it’s bad. It leads to hostility and bigotry, and eventually to aggression and potential violence, even death.

Those who try to break into a group can be rejected and thrown out, simply because they’re unknown.

Avoiding those we don’t know not only causes pain to the stranger, it also stunts our own growth. When we refuse to increase our exposure to those who are different than us, we miss out on new experiences and opportunities, as well as reinforce our own narrow-mindedness.

It can lead to bad personal decisions as well as catastrophic societal behaviors, such as discrimination, xenophobia, hate crimes, genocide, etc.

How can we avoid practicing contact bias?

It may not be easy to do, but it’s easy to prescribe: Broaden your contacts.

Be open to meeting people who are different than you, without judgments and preconceptions. Whether the difference is in race, gender, religion, age, politics, or economics, make the leap to expand your contacts.

For Christian believers, have friendships with non-believers to get to know them as individuals, not as projects to be converted. See them as people who love their families and live by moral principles and want to live meaningful lives, just like you do.

If you’ve visited a foreign country, you often come back home with an affection in your heart for friends you made there, people you may have once assumed were very different from you.

Usually what changes our minds about a particular group of people is getting to know an individual in that group. It challenges our stereotypes and changes our hearts. It also helps us see that every individual is unique, regardless of what group we categorize them in.

And what if we still don’t like the specific individual? That happens. But at least we’ve broadened our perspective and gotten to know one more person.

How did Jesus set the example to avoid contact bias?

Jesus was radical in his ability to cross the cultural lines of his day.

Jesus respected women, he touched lepers, he ate with tax collectors, he valued children. He paved the way for all people to enter the kingdom of God, not just the Jewish people.

He confronted prejudice and challenged his followers to do likewise.

That includes us. One way to do so is to fight against our contact bias and get to know and respect others more.

When have you been surprised once you got to know someone different? Please share in the comments.

You are on Day 18 of the series: “How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”

Previous: Framing Bias {Bias Day 17}
“How the Frame Influences the Painting”

Next: Bias and Race {Bias Day 19}
“Are You Aware of Your Racial Bias?”

How the Frame Influences the Painting—Framing Effect {Bias Day 17}

By LisaNotes February 17, 2021 Hidden Biases 9 Comments

What is the framing effect?

The framing effect is when our decisions vary because of the way information is presented to us (the frame), rather than the face value of the information itself (the painting).

Depending on the wording (framing), we draw different conclusions. We lean toward’s options that are framed positively (lives saved verses lives lost), and options that contain higher numbers versus lower numbers (95% fat-free versus 5% fat).

Here’s an example of the framing effect.

Remember Tom Sawyer tricking his friends to whitewash the fence? He was using the framing effect, convincing his friends it was a privilege to do the job.

Here’s a relevant example I saw. Say you’re presented with two identical containers of disinfectant wipes with their accompanying advertising.

Type A: “Kills 95% of all germs”
Type B: “Only 5% of germs survive”

You’re more likely to choose Type A than Type B because it is presented in a positive frame instead of a negative frame.

Another common example is a medical scenario. If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness, which doctor will you choose?

Doctor A: “You have a 10% chance of dying from surgery.”
Doctor B: “You have a 90% chance of surviving surgery.”

Most people say they’d choose Doctor B, even though the odds are exactly the same with both doctors.

Why do we fall for the framing effect?

The framing effect is one of the largest biases we have when we make decisions. And it often increases with age, with the elderly more prone to make decisions based on presentation of the facts instead of on the facts themselves.

We’re biased toward gains instead of losses. Options framed in a positive light are more likely chosen.

“A loss is perceived as more significant, and therefore more worthy of avoiding, than an equivalent gain.”

Also, as with all biases, when given the option, our brain will take the shortcut. It opts for information that is most easily understood.

Research also says that framing leans on emotional responses. A charismatic political candidate can often get more votes despite having bad policies, than a boring candidate with better policies. We prefer the positive frame.

Why do we need to watch out for the framing effect?

The framing effect can be used either positively or negatively in influencing our choices. If a bad option is framed positively, we may choose it, if we don’t take measures to counter the framing effect.

We can be duped into overvaluing poor information simply because it is presented more clearly and is more understandable.

A great presentation can influence us more than the information itself because we see only what it wants us to see.

“Think about the metaphor behind the concept. A frame focuses attention on the painting it surrounds. Putting a painting in a red frame brings out the red in the work; putting the same painting in a blue frame brings out the blue.”

How can we guard against the framing effect?

Learn more about the issues and use critical thinking. Studies show that those more involved with an issue suffer less from framing effects around it, and make better informed decisions.

Take the opposite approach. If a message is framed negatively, put it into a positive frame for evaluation. If it’s framed positively, put it into a negative frame before deciding.

Get different perspectives. Ask others for their point of view. Encourage them to play devil’s advocate with you. Seek information from a variety of sources.

Look at the numbers. Even though statistics themselves can be framed in a variety of ways, look for the baseline numbers that answer the questions you’re asking.

How did Jesus see the framing effect?

Jesus presented the kingdom of heaven in upside down frame. The first will be last; to become a leader, be a servant; lose your life to find it; bless those who curse you.

Because he used a different perspective than they were expecting, his message was unsettling. They had to move past the packaging of a regular human being to hear the Son of God’s message.

Jesus shook their frame.

But for those truly interested, his message caused them to really think. He actually encouraged them to do so, to thoroughly think it through. No man who puts his hand to the plow without counting the cost was fit for the kingdom.

And those who truly heard became true followers. He promised them escape from destruction and salvation eternally. It became an offer they couldn’t refuse.

May we truly listen for the truth as well. And accept the truth we hear, however it is framed.

How have ever made a purchase based on the framing effect? Please share in the comments.

You are on Day 17 of the series: “How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”

Previous: Declinism {Bias Day 16}
“Are Things Really Worse Now?”

Next: Contact Bias {Bias Day 18}
“When You Don’t Know the Other”

Are Things Really Worse Now?—Declinism Bias {Bias Day 16}

By LisaNotes February 16, 2021 Hidden Biases 8 Comments

Declinism? What is it?

Declinism is our predisposition to glorify the past as the good ol’ days compared to the doom and gloom of our current direction.

It’s the bias that that our society (or healthcare or the justice system or education) is heading downhill.

What’s an example of declinism?

We all know (or maybe we are?) the stereotypical older person who tells the youngsters how good things were back in their day, when you could ride in the back of a pickup truck and you could pray in school and you didn’t have to keep up with how many followers and likes you had on Facebook. But now? The world is a mess, they say.

Or maybe you think music was only good from the 1960s; today’s music is junk. Or movies. Or church. Or race relations. Pick your genre; there’s someone who will insist that the past “___” was the best and the present/future is only getting worse.

Why does this happen?

Some blame the declinism bias on our “reminiscence bump.” Between the ages of 10-30, we create a memory bump of exciting and new experiences, judging our experiences after 30 as perhaps less thrilling in comparison.

We also have a survival instinct to stay alert for threats. With a negative mindset, we see what we’re looking for (confirmation bias). The news media monopolizes on this tendency by warning us about potential threats.

Regardless of which media you lean toward, you’re likely to see more negative stories about the future than positive stories. We put more weight on the negative things we see happening than the positive things (some say in a ratio of 3:1).

We also are uncomfortable with change. We want our world to make sense, and when things start to change, it troubles us and we can view it as negative, whether it is or not.

We’re also selective with our memories. Things aren’t always like we remember them. We don’t intend for it to happen, but our brains are more subjective than we realize.

“Even if we believe that we are looking at the past, present and future objectively when making decisions, the reality is that our brains think subjectively. Our present emotions, that are skewed by the negativity bias, have much greater weight in decision-making than our past emotions. They lead us to believe that things are worse now than they once were, and that things are only going to continue in that negative trend.”

Is it harmful to view the world as getting worse?

No, it’s not harmful to see things that are truly in decline. We need to notice and make improvements when possible.

The danger is when we assume some things are in decline when they are not. Declinism clouds our judgment of reality. It can distort our next steps.

When we view the past only through rose-colored glasses, we can become overly pessimistic about the future, thereby contributing to its decline instead of making wise decisions for its incline. It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Declinism also causes friction and alienation among people. When someone feels society is in decline, they tend to mistrust others and feel there is no hope. They’re more susceptible to mental disorders and behaviors instead of working toward making things better.

How can we avoid declinism?

Look at the evidence. Seek out reliable statistics. Stay curious. Many areas that we assume are in decline might be proven otherwise.

Find reasons to be grateful in the present and about the future. Reframe challenges as opportunities. Make a difference.

Monitor your emotional state. Remember that nostalgia taints your view of the past. It makes it hard to think straight. Counter your negative views of the future with positive angles as well. Most of life is not an all-or-nothing proposition.

Talk to or read about others who had different experiences in the past than your own. Perhaps your life 50 years ago was a delightful era, but those held in death’s grip of prejudice and discrimination will hold a completely opposite view.

More here:
“Were They Really the ‘Good Old Days’? Depends on Who You Ask”

How did Jesus handle declinism?

Because Jesus was an agent for change, we see his followers engaging in declinism about the old Law. The Pharisees and religious leaders didn’t appreciate the direction Jesus was heading with his new thoughts. They only saw the demise of their way of life and religion if Jesus was to succeed in his.

But Jesus continued to point toward a better future. He showed the way forward, toward hope and light and life. He promised the best was yet to come, not the worst.

We can hold on to those promises today. Even when things do look dark, we can remember there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow because God will be there with us in it. He will sustain us through the darkness and will guide us to the light.

Are things really worse now?

Some things are. Maybe it’s time to let those things go. Or time for us to change them.

But many things are better. Let’s celebrate those as we live in the Light.

How have you seen this bias in your own life or relationships? Please share in the comments.

You are on Day 16 of the series: “How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”

Previous: Confirmation Bias {Bias Day 15}
“You’re Bad But I’m Just Stressed”

Next: Framing Effect Bias {Bias Day 17}
“How the Frame Influences the Painting”

Why I’m Memorizing Isaiah 12 During Lent—And You Can, Too

By LisaNotes February 15, 2021 Memorization 4 Comments

Does Your Church Observe Lent?

I grew up in a very religious family. We were always in church. But I had never heard of Lent.

No church I’ve attended since has observed Lent either.

But that doesn’t discourage me from my own personal observation of the season.

Participating in Lent may or not be a requirement in your Christian tradition either.

But it can be an opportunity.

This year I’m going to re-memorize Isaiah 12 during the Lenten season with Do Not Depart.

What Is Lent?

The six week period of Lent, leading up to Easter, is traditionally viewed as a season of contemplation and preparation. It’s a period to prepare ourselves spiritually for the worldwide celebration of Jesus’s death and resurrection on Easter morning, key events in the Christian faith.

Lent is also a time when many Christians voluntarily give up one thing (meat, chocolate, alcohol, TV, social media, etc.) so they can concentrate on another thing (prayer, repentance, reflection, generosity, forgiveness, etc.).

When we memorize scripture, we’re giving up time, energy, and our own thoughts to concentrate on prayer, praise, and God’s thoughts. It’s an investment that returns to us ten-fold.

Memorize Isaiah 12 During Lent

On Ash Wednesday, February 17, we’ll begin reading and praying daily through Isaiah 12:1-6.

Then beginning Sunday, February 21, we’ll individually memorize one verse per week in Isaiah 12 (there are only 6 verses!). You can also look up the original Hebrew words; read commentaries; write the verse by hand; recite it aloud; anything that helps you roll around the words and praise in your heart and head again and again.

You won’t be alone in it. Almost 100 people have already signed up to memorize Isaiah 12 together as part of our Hide His Word community.

You’re invited to join, too. We’re a no-pressure group who has discovered great value in practicing the spiritual discipline of memorization. Our pace is slow but steady at one verse a week.

After six weeks, leading up to Easter morning, we’ll have memorized a chapter of the Bible.

But more importantly, we’ll have spent six weeks with God in an intentional, focused way, readying our hearts for Jesus’s escape from any tombs we’ve buried him in, walking into fresh, new life once again.

Is scripture memorization a requirement for believers? Certainly not.

But can it be beneficial? Most definitely.

Join us and find out. You’ll get resources to print and the link to connect you with our Facebook group.

Sign up here.

If you’d like more tools for how to memorize a chapter of the Bible (or individual verses), I compiled a series of 31 days on “Tools to Memorize a Bible Chapter” using Isaiah 12 as the sample chapter.

See the index here and get any memorization tools you need.

You’re Bad, But I’m Just Stressed—Fundamental Attribution Error {Bias Day 15}

By LisaNotes February 15, 2021 Hidden Biases 5 Comments

What is the fundamental attribution error?

Fundamental attribution error (FAE) is how we judge negative behavior. When other people act bad, we assume it’s a character flaw. It’s just who they are.

But when we act bad? It’s due to external circumstances. It’s not fundamentally who we are. We’re just overworked, under stress, having an off day.

FAE is overestimating the influence that personality has on other people’s behavior, and underestimating the influence of external circumstances on their behavior. And vice versa for us.

What’s an example of attributing a fundamental error to someone’s character?

If a coworker makes a mistake at work, we might assume they’re just lazy and don’t care. But if we make the same mistake, it’s because we weren’t given the proper instructions or were interrupted too many times.

Here’s another example of FAE: We see someone hit another car in a parking lot. We assume that person is a bad driver and goes too fast.

But if it happens to us, we only hit the car because it was in our blindspot or it came out of nowhere (um, I’m not speaking from personal experience, am I?). We know we’re a good driver and are always paying attention.

Why do we have this tendency toward FAE?

As with many of the other biases, fundamental attribution error is a mental shortcut. It’s easier for our minds to jump to the conclusion that a person’s behavior is a result of their personality versus trying to explore other possible explanations.

Interestingly, culture plays a role on who is more prone to this bias. In cultures that are strong in individualism (look at the United States), people are more prone to make the fundamental attribution error. They judge others quicker for not pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps, regardless of outside circumstances.

But in cultures that are more group-oriented and who value the collective good (such as east Asian countries, Latin American, and African countries), they’re less likely to have this bias. They are less likely to erroneously assign character flaws to other people.

Why is it dangerous to have FAE?

It causes us to jump to the wrong conclusions about a person before we know all the facts. We assign blame and intent when we don’t have access to a person’s motivations.

It hurts our relationships on every level (work, play, parenting, romantic) when we judge others unfairly for character defects instead of also considering external circumstances.

How can we counter FAE?

Remember we all have a tendency toward this bias if we’re not aware of it. Keep in mind that it exists.

Also, reflect back on past situations that could help explain a person’s behavior. There may be outside reasons you can piece together. Perhaps think of what might cause you to behave in this manner in a similar situation.

Consider all the possibilities. When possible, give someone the benefit of the doubt first. Listen to their explanation of why something happened instead of blindly assuming they are at fault because of their character.

Don’t take someone else’s bad behavior personally. Odds are there are other factors involved instead of “they’re just a mean person” who is trying to hurt you.

And again, as with the other biases, slow down your thinking. Instead of believing the first explanation that pops into your mind, give it time. Other more reasonable ideas may present themselves, if given the opportunity to surface.

How did Jesus handle fundamental attribution error?

Jesus understood that people needed to be seen for their true character, made in God’s image, taking everything into account. He saw hope for redemption in every person.

Knowing how they would later behave, he could have called his followers “deserters” or “traitors” or “doubters.” But he didn’t. He saw them as more than their behavior on their worst day.

Jesus also tells us to not judge others without a long look in the mirror. “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). And “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

Examine our own hearts first. Then we’ll listen more carefully to each other’s hearts. And show grace more. Just like Jesus wants us to.

How have you prematurely judged another person without having all the facts (which is always)? Share in the comments.

You are on Day 15 of the series: “How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”

See the Bias Table of Contents here

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Previous: Scripture Wisdom {Bias Day 14}
“Wisdom’s Starting Point”

Next: Declinism Bias {Bias Day 16}
“Are Things Really Worse Now?”