This intriguing work by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald, two psychologists, is based on findings from the Project Implicit website which has gotten media attention for its creative visual and verbal quizzes. Over 14 million IATs (Implicit Association Tests) have been recorded since the test was introduced. Their most important finding is the influence of "mindbugs," which they define as "ingrained habits of thought that lead to errors in how we perceive, remember, reason, and make decisions." These intruders enable good people to make bad decisions and choose preferences that go against their real feelings. The authors present evidence that Americans give support to whites and hold stereotypical views of African Americans.
The same process is at work in biased gender views of women, old people, and homosexuals. Implicit Association Tests are helpful in pointing out the large amount of inner work that has to be done to eradicate in-group preferences that can create the foundation of blatant prejudice against those who are considered outsiders. Beliefs and behavior can be changed, and hostile imagination remains a daunting challenge for all of us.
