Implicit Bias & Microaggressions

Racial and sexual minorities experience barriers in accessing healthcare that may impact their overall health outcomes. This timely presentation will invite you to look at any implicit bias and behaviors that you bring into the clinical setting that could that negatively promote healthcare disparities. 2020. 64 minutes

First coined by American psychiatrist Chester Pierce, microaggressions are often described as, "brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of other races."This powerful video provides twenty examples of microaggressions in everyday life. These include microaggressions based on race, disability, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion. Several scenarios show how the intersections of multiple identities influence the types of microaggressions experienced.Dr. Nadal, Dr. Rivera, and Dr. Watkins engage in dialogue surrounding these microaggressions to better help viewers understand the complexity of these types of situations, as well as the difficulty in addressing these forms of subtle discrimination when they occur. They provide clinical insights and personal reactions to each scenario, as well as the multiple ways that people may feel or react to these microaggressions when they occur. 2013. 78 minutes

Research has indicated that microaggressions occurring in a counseling session can lead to a disruption in the working alliance between therapist and client and can cause clients to drop out of therapy. In addition, the cumulative impact of microaggressions has been found to contribute to negative mental health outcomes including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. As therapists and/or therapists-in-training it is important to become aware of one’s own biases and assumptions about individuals across a variety of racial cultural groups.

This video featuring Dr. Gina Torino demonstrates a variety of microaggressions that revolve around race, culture, gender, and sexual identity. Viewers will watch 12 different role plays that demonstrate therapists committing a microaggressions during a therapeutic encounter. A debriefing follows each role play to further analyze what has occurred and the message conveyed to the client. 2018. 20 minutes

My Whole Self is a documentary on microaggressions and gender and intersectionality. It explores the subtle forms of gender bias experienced by women across lines of difference. 2017. 27 minutes

This video gives educators strategies on how to check and prevent implicit bias. 2018. 4 minutes

It's important to realize the implicit biases we carry regarding gender.In school settings, women are less likely to be encouraged to pursue careers in STEM fields because it's assumed that men have greater math skills. This simply isn't true.In the interest of a successful society, everyone should be allowed to pursue work based on their interests and skills. Whistleblowers: Honesty in America from Washington to Trump Whistleblowers: Honesty in America from Washington to Trump. 2019. 4 minutes

In this interview from Carlos Zalaquett, Maritza Gallardo-Cooper, Patricia Arredondo David Acevedo, Lisa Costas, and Carlos Zalaquett discuss microaggressions and macroaggressions from a Latino/Latina perspective. 2012. 47 minutes

In this interview from Carlos Zalaquett, Maritza Gallardo-Cooper, Patricia Arredondo David Acevedo, Lisa Costas, and Carlos Zalaquett discuss microaggressions and macroaggressions from a Latino/Latina perspective. 2012. 36 minutes

New York Times. 2016

Project Implicit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and international collaborative of researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition.

Michigan State Medical Society.
June 2022
"An applicant for license renewal shall have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant’s license or registration cycle. An applicant for new licensure, both limited and medical, shall have completed a minimum of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration."

Michigan Medicine

San Francisco Community College Library