The following is an excerpt from Appendix A (“Reader’s Guide”) in Sondra Thiederman’s book, Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace, Revised 2 nd Edition (New York: Kaplan Publishing, 2008).

Chapter 7: Step Four—Dissect Your Biases

Chapter Summary

One of the most important steps in The Vision Renewal Process is to subject our biases to a strict test of logic. This means to examine how we learned each bias so as to reveal its weak foundation and faulty beginnings. In most cases, this dissection will show that the source of the bias—be it a parent, experience, or the media—was is, indeed, unreliable. We often, for example, think of experience as a reliable source of information. In fact, an experience—and the bias it creates—can be distorted by the emotions we brought to the initial event. It is also helpful to ask ourselves these questions: How much actual contact have I had with the group toward which I hold a bias? How many times have I encountered people who, in fact, do not conform to my bias?

Dialogue Questions

1. We have talked about how parents and other “tribal leaders” are sources of bias. Often the biases our parents teach are transmitted through subtle and ambiguous messages. Do you agree that it is the subtler messages of biases that are the hardest to dislodge? If so, why? If not, why not?

2. The media is obviously responsible for a great deal of bias in our culture. What strategies might you propose in the workplace to minimize this influence?

3. This chapter talks about how our initial experiences with members of other groups can be distorted by the emotions we bring to the encounter. What other factors might distort these experiences and our memory of them? How can we prevent this distortion from taking place?

4. How do you feel about the notion that some people actually latch on to negative biases as a means of creating drama in their lives? Do you think that happens often? Does that idea surprise you?

5 . How might you change the mind of someone who says his bias is true because every person he has ever met conforms to what he believes?

To check on Sondra’s availability or to receive additional information including a demonstration tape and references, please contact the bureau who sent you to this site or:

Joan Pierce
Marketing Director
Cross-Cultural Communications
4585 48th Street
San Diego, CA 92115
Phone: 619-583-4478
Fax: 619-583-0304
Click here to contact Sondra Thiederman or Joan Pierce