{"id":166,"date":"2023-03-21T14:27:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T18:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/?post_type=bulb-learning-module&#038;p=166"},"modified":"2025-03-25T12:47:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T16:47:13","slug":"checking-personal-biases","status":"publish","type":"bulb-learning-module","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/lessons\/facing-personal-professional-attitudes\/checking-personal-biases\/","title":{"rendered":"Checking Biases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Theresa McHenry, organizational development leader, reminds us the point is not to get us to accept we have biases but rather<strong> recognize, &#8220;<strong>those biases have negative consequences <\/strong>for others.&#8221; <\/strong>We check our biases because they interfere with authentic partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/03\/167-Bridge-St-22.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/02\/pexels-kindel-media-7979604-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"behavioral health provider and family members shaking hands in partnership, lower bodies in view\" class=\"wp-image-74\" width=\"603\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/02\/pexels-kindel-media-7979604-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/02\/pexels-kindel-media-7979604-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/02\/pexels-kindel-media-7979604-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/02\/pexels-kindel-media-7979604-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/02\/pexels-kindel-media-7979604-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 603px) 100vw, 603px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<h2><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"><strong>On<\/strong> Eliminating Behavioral Health Disparities<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">For decades, scientists and psychologists have labeled and measured the presence and impact of our biases. <strong>This brief video offers a working definition of bias and describes the health inequities that result from biases.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><div class=\"responsive-video responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What is implicit bias?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6V9jIDeuFpc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforpreventionmn.com\/all-videos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click <\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: #007fac;\"><span style=\"caret-color: #007fac;\"><u>th<\/u><\/span><\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforpreventionmn.com\/all-videos\/\">is link to access <\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforpreventionmn.com\/all-videos\/\" target=\"_blank\">full content<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforpreventionmn.com\/all-videos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, 2023 Center for Prevention<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/11\/Transcription-for-What-is-Implicit-Bias.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What Is Implicit Bias? transcription<\/a><a href=\"\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/11\/Transcription-for-What-is-Implicit-Bias.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\">Practice Pause: Biases Interrupt Support<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unaddressed biases will influence your work partnering with individuals and families. <strong>Notice how family member Krystal in the following video, explains the impact of biases on her family.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<p><em><strong>Content warning<\/strong>: this extended video contains topics that may be sensitive including racism, behavioral health support disparities, suicide, domestic violence, self-harm, substance use, hospitalization, and medication.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><div class=\"responsive-video responsive-youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Flourishing Families presents This Is My Brave\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JZr2Z38tmJo?start=2844&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/JZr2Z38tmJo\" target=\"_blank\">Click this link to access a video recording of Flourishing Families presents This Is My Brave Show &#8212; The Show (2023) <\/a>at the WBUR CitySpace in Boston, MA. The Show featured family storytellers sharing their lived experience as caregivers of young adults who live with mental health challenges. <em><em>This video will start at an intentionally identified time stamp<\/em>. <\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/11\/Transcription-of-Krystal-Livingston.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Krystal&#8217;s Brave Story transcription<\/a><a href=\"\/familypartnership\/files\/2023\/11\/Transcription-of-Krystal-Livingston.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"><strong>On <\/strong>Removing Barriers <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider these 3 types of biases &#8212; <em><strong>reactive devaluation, illusion of validity, and anchoring effect<\/strong> <\/em>&#8212; that commonly arise in behavioral health settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Reactive Devaluation<\/strong>: when providers underestimate families&#8217; suggestions or observations because the:\n<ul>\n<li><em>Recommendation is perceived as oppositional<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Provider hasn&#8217;t observed what the family is reporting<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Suggestion isn&#8217;t coming from a mental health &#8220;expert<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\"><li><strong>Illusion of Validity:<\/strong> when providers overestimate their ability to predict outcomes because they have:<strong> <\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><em>&#8220;Seen this kind of case before&#8221;<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Not built a trusting partnership<\/em> <em>with the family<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Made generalizations about<\/em> <em>the family<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\"><li><strong>Anchoring Effect:<\/strong> when providers over-rely on initial impressions of families to inform ongoing partnership efforts because:\n<ul>\n<li><em>It&#8217;s time-consuming to get to know individual families<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Time with families is not billable and therefore not prioritized<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Getting to know and connect with families adds to the workload<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Practice Pause: <\/strong>Building Insight to Identify Biases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Consider the following scenario to answer the two questions below.<\/strong>\u00a0In her first therapy session, Wei, who is 13 years old asks the therapist if her parents can join. She and her parents ask many questions about what to expect and share their worries about the timeline and treatment effectiveness. The therapist acknowledges and validates their questions and concerns. The therapist, Wei, and her family plan to talk in a few days, before Wei\u2019s next scheduled visit, to explore any remaining questions. The therapist hopes this point of contact will encourage the Wei to continue treatment, informed and supported.\u00a0<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"bulb_question_bb7b7aedd63744fead73a95887316a50\" class=\"bulb-question\" style=\"background-color:;color:;font-size:px;\"><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"bulb_question_053bbbebabb94967ba011fd4035b11a9\" class=\"bulb-question\" style=\"background-color:;color:;font-size:px;\"><\/div>\n\n<p><!-- \/wp:group --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":37} --><!-- \/wp:spacer --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:bulb\/question-ma {\"id\":\"bulb_question_2f2fb380a7454dd4ab35eeb7b28c995f\",\"header\":\"Imagine you're the behavioral health provider meeting an individual and their family. During the initial session, they \\u003cstrong\\u003edo not\\u003c\/strong\\u003e ask you any questions and give brief, agreeable answers to your questions. You use this information \\u002d\\u002d \\u003cem\\u003eyour perception of the individual and their family\\u003c\/em\\u003e \\u002d\\u002d to confirm they don't have questions or reservations and agree with your proposed treatment plan.\",\"body\":\"\\u003cstrong\\u003eWHICH cognitive bias is this?\\u003c\/strong\\u003e \\u003cem\\u003eReview biases outlined above, as needed.\\u003c\/em\\u003e\",\"answers\":[{\"answer\":\"Anchoring Effect\",\"feedback\":\"Over-relying on biased impressions, or the anchoring effect, is what happened in the scenario.\",\"correct\":true},{\"answer\":\"Illusion of Validity\",\"feedback\":\"Not the illusion of validity. This scenario is not about predicting outcomes.\",\"correct\":false},{\"answer\":\"Reactive Devaluation\",\"feedback\":\"Not reactive devaluation. The family hasn't offered any suggestions in this scenario.\",\"correct\":false}],\"feedback\":{\"correct\":\"\\u003cstrong\\u003eYou're right. \\u003c\/strong\\u003eIn this situation, you are relying too heavily on the assumption that no questions or expressed reservations equals agreement. \",\"incorrect\":\"Revisit the definitions of biases above. \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eClick RESET\\u003c\/strong\\u003e \\u003c\/strong\\u003eto try again.\"}} \/--><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":41} --><!-- \/wp:spacer --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"><strong>Practice Pause: <\/strong>Reflection on Power <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Gather some note-taking materials (e.g., paper\/pen, file on your computer). Then, return to the scenario above that was likely<strong> shaped by power differentials that can exist on various levels. <\/strong>Take a few moments to reflect openly and honestly on WHY this interaction may have unfolded as it did.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} --><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What observable social identities do you hold (<em>e.g., physical presentation, language, etc.<\/em>) that might have influenced this interaction?<\/li>\n<li>What about your role as a behavioral health provider may have influenced this interaction <em>(i.e. how the individual and family likely regard you, etc.)<\/em>?<\/li>\n<li><strong>How could you name these factors in your work with individuals and families to facilitate sharing power? <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":50} --><!-- \/wp:spacer --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"><strong>Navigate to Next Page:<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-very-dark-gray-color\"> Click <\/span>3<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p><div class=\"bulb-pagination\" aria-label=\"pagination\">\n\t<div class=\"bulb-pagination-label\">Page 2 of 3<\/div>\n\n\t<a href=https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/lessons\/facing-personal-professional-attitudes\/ class=\"inactive\">1<\/a><span class=\"current\">2<\/span><a href=https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/lessons\/facing-personal-professional-attitudes\/setting-aside-predictions-judgments\/ class=\"inactive\">3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":22121,"parent":132,"menu_order":1,"template":"","bulb-courses":[9],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bulb-learning-module\/166"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bulb-learning-module"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bulb-learning-module"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22121"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bulb-learning-module\/166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2818,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bulb-learning-module\/166\/revisions\/2818"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bulb-learning-module\/132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bulb-courses","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/familypartnership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bulb-courses?post=166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}