Harvard study finds implicit racial bias highest among white people

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reveals a significant disparity between people’s explicit beliefs and implicit biases regarding racial groups. Over 90% of participants stated that white and non-white people are equally human, but an implicit measure showed that white participants associated “human” more with their own racial group than with others. Conversely, Black, Asian, and Hispanic participants did not display such biases. The research underscores the enduring presence of sentiments that have historically led to discrimination and dehumanization, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness to challenge stereotypes.