An example of implicit bias?

• A. Believing that men and women both make good police officers, but only hiring or promoting men because of an implicit association.
• B. Explicitly stating that one gender is superior.
• C. Ignoring all evidence in decision making.
• D. Applying objective criteria.

Answer: (A)

Implicit bias is attitudes or stereotypes that affect our judgments and actions without us realizing it. In this example, the person believes both men and women can be good police officers, but they hire or promote men because of an automatic association linking gender with suitability for the role. That unconscious cue drives unequal treatment despite an explicit belief in equal capability, which is the hallmark of implicit bias in decision making. The other options point to different ideas: stating that one gender is superior reflects explicit bias, ignoring all evidence describes a distortive thinking pattern rather than a bias rooted in automatic associations, and applying objective criteria aligns with fairness and lacks the biased influence.