Bias Without Prejudice
with Dr. Jason Plaks
Dr. Jason Plaks explores the field of social psychology and its relevance to real-world issues such as biases and prejudices. He discusses the concepts of explicit and implicit biases, stereotypes, and prejudice. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a simple tool introduced by Dr. Plaks to measure implicit biases and associations. This talk also addresses biases related to minorities and racial disparities in healthcare, particularly in pain perception and treatment. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing biases in medical decision-making. The participants suggest the use of cognitive forcing strategies and memory aids to mitigate biases. They also consider the potential use of transcription or dictation tools to prompt healthcare professionals about potential biases in specific scenarios. The discussion highlights the need for ongoing awareness and efforts to reduce biases in medical practice.
​
About Dr. Jason Plaks
Dr. Plaks is an associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of Toronto, St George campus. He is a social/personality psychologist primarily interested in the links between cognition and motivation. His main research and teaching areas include social cognition; motivation and goal setting; prejudice and stereotyping; and self and identity. He has published numerous book chapters and articles across the discipline, including material in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Personality and Social Psychology Review.