Blinded By Bias and Power NASW FINAL

9/22/2021

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BLINDED BY BIAS & POWERDEVELOPED BY GROW MY LIFE, LLC – Dana Johnson, MSW 1

Dana Johnson, MSW

Social WorkerHuman Services & Child Welfare

Professional Trainer

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https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-affect-heuristic-27950283

HEURISTICS, COGNITIVE BIASES & DECISION MAKING

Gain an understanding of heuristics.

Explore and interpret personal cognitive biases that affect decision making.

Examine personal biases to improve self-awareness in the role of helper.

Develop and enhance interventions with clients from differing identities and cultures than oneself.

Name Where you work/live Length of service/experience

Provide an example of a time you felt powerless

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CORE VALUESACTIVITY

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8P O W E R B A S E S

INFORMATIONAL REWARD REFERENT

COERCIVELEGITIMATE

EXPERTISE

RELATIONSHIP

4.

Information necessary for followers

Referred influence based on personal traits

Based on fear or complicit following

Rewards given

Position based on positionor title

Expert knowledge, skills

Connections, influence

Bacon, Terry. (2011) The Elements of Power: Lessons on Leadership and Influence. Amacom.

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ASSESSING YOUR USE OF POWER

https://www.verywellmind.com/representativeness-heuristic-27958059

NASW CODE OF ETHICS

1.011.

1.02Self-

Determination2.1.03

Informed Consent3.

1.04Competence4.

1.06Conflicts of

Interest5.1.07

Privacy and Confidentiality6.

1.14Clients Who Lack Decision-Making

Capacity.7.

1.15Interruption of Services8.

1.16Referral for

Services9.

Commitment to Clients

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MPSW 20Performing or

offering services that you are unqualified

Violating a law that relates to the

practice under the credential

Continuing performance after been adjudged

incompetent

Using fraud or deception in application of

credential

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ABUSE OF POWER


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LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

14ROLE POWERKNOW AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR GIVEN POWER

BADGES OF AUTHORITY

REWARD

LEGITIMATE

COERCIVE

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Experiences with

POWER

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THE GOOD / BAD / & UGLY

ASSUMING POWERBe careful of the slippery slope.

• We learn to adapt to our own way of thinking and forget about other worldviews.

• We lose control and our values erode.

• We spend all our energy maintaining power.

GIVEN POWER & MAINTAINING POWER

Keltner, Dacher. (2007) The Power Paradox. Greater Good Magazine: Science-Based Insights for a Meaningful Life. Internet.17

Given power is rooted in social intelligence.

• Placing ethics and social responsibility 1st.

• We believe in the inherent dignity and worth of others – advancing others 1st.

• Power corrupts and we must seek a balance between two individuals.

POWER & COGNITIVE BIASESCONNECTING THE DOTS

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HIERARCHY OF RACE CONSTRUCT

https://www.dismantlingracism.org/history.html

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White + European

Brown + Mixed

Indigenous

Black + African

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WHAT’S INSIDE YOUR BRAIN?“Bias can be triggered and can have a devastating impact even when we’re not aware

of it, even when it’s our intention to be fair.” - Jennifer Eberhard

http://humanhow.com/list-of-cognitive-biases-with-examples/https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/think-youre-not-biased-think-again

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21COGNITIVE BIASES

ANCHORING

FALSE CONSENSUS

AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC

ACTOR-OBSERVER

CONFIRMATION

ATTENTIONAL

FUNCTIONAL FIXEDNESS

HALO EFFECT

MISINFORMATION EFFECT

OPTIMISM

SELF-SERVING

DUNNING-KRUGER EFFECT

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/why-whites-downplay-their-individual-racial-privileges

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/better-way-diffuse-racial-discrimination

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/publications/spillover-bias-diversity-judgment

http://kirwaninstitute.osu.edu/research/understanding-implicit-bias/

aka – KNEW-IT-ALL-ALONG

https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-biases-distort-thinking-2794763

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NASW CODE OF ETHICS

2.0110.

2.02Confidentiality11.

2.04Disputes Involving

Colleagues12.

2.10Unethical

Conduct of Colleagues

13.3.09

Commitment to Employers14.

4.03Private

Conduct15.

4.06Misrepresentations16.

5.01Integrity of

the Profession

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Social and Political Action

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Respect

MPSW 20Using false or misleading

advertisement or working for someone

who does

Engaging in false or misleading billing

practices

Reporting false or misleading info, or

making false statements in practice

Discriminating on basis of US protected class in

providing or denying service

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

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HEURISTICSAvailability & Representative

https://www.verywellmind.com/problems-in-decision-making-2795486

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MENTAL SHORTCUTS ARE TO BLAME

HeuristicsAllows people to solve problems and make judgments quickly and efficiently.

• Purely rational decision would involve weighing factors as potential costs vs. possible benefits. –WE DO NOT DO THIS

• Time limits our ability to make decisions.

• Intelligence and accuracy of our own perceptions influence our decision-making.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-heuristic-2795235

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We substitute simple and related questions, rather than using complex strategies.

• Thinking hurts, it takes energy, and sometimes we prefer to take the shortcut, the lazy river way out.

• We believe that the simplest answer is the right one, we believe they are correct and true.

• Our brains are limited in capacity and mental strategies are needed to overcome brain burnout.

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REPRESENTATIVE HEURISTICS LEADS TO BIAS


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AVAILABILITY HEURISTICS

https://www.verywellmind.com/availability-heuristic-2794824

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OVERESTIMATING OUR KNOWLEDGE

Overconfidence causes us to select answers because we believe we know the right one. We make the decision based on what we believe to be true. We do not check (fact check) to seek the truth.Sometimes we overestimate our knowledge of cultures, behaviors, and the effects of those behaviors on how we interact with clients or make decisions.

Knowledge without facts, leads us to misremembering, as well as remembering only falsehoods.Hindsight bias creeps in and will cause us to make decision based on the information we know from our previous mistakes. This leads to further poor decision making.

OVERESTIMATING OUR SKILLS

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MPSW 20Practicing while under

the influence of alcohol or other drugs (impairment)

Revealing facts, data, information, or records of clients when received from

your professional role

Reporting false or misleading info, or

making false statements in practice

Failing to provide description of tests,

consultation, reports, fees, or therapeutic regimen

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PSYCHOLOGY IS THE ANSWER

https://www.verywellmind.com/decision-making-strategies-279548332

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MPSW 20Failing to avoid dual

relationships that create conflict of interest

Failing to conduct an assessment, eval, or

diagnosis as a basis for treatment

Employing or claiming to have secret techniques or procedures not divulged

divulged

In research, not informing participants of

all the features of the research project

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MPSW 20Failing to inform client of

financial interest not obvious and could assist in service,

product, or publication

Failing to maintain adequate records; prepare in timely fashion, maintained for 7

years

Violating Chapter 457 of State code

Failing to notify board that license has been revoked,

suspended, limited, or denied any time

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ETHICAL DECISION MAKING MODEL

DO

Describe the Opposing Values, Priorities, StandardsWhat is the dilemma?What values, priorities, or standards are being violated or challenged?

E Examine ValuesValues of: Client, Family system, Your personal values, Agency values

T Think about the ethical standardCode of Ethics - MPSW 20 - Agency Policy or Laws – Administrative Policies

H Hypothesize various courses of action (responses)What are all of your options in this situation?What are my motivations behind choosing each option?

I Identify who you will harm and who you will helpWho will most benefit?Who will be most impacted?What are the long-term effects vs. short term effects?

C Consult with colleagues and/or supervisorSeek out multiple perspectives, experience, and a place to seek feedback

S Scribe & SequelDocument what you decided, who helped you decide, and make note of your thinking as you moved through the processRe-examine the consequences, long-term and short-term effects, harm, and benefits.

Ethical Dilemmas Case Scenarios

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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IMPACTS ON A LARGER SCALE

Item 1 Title

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Item 2 Title Item 3 Title

Item 4 Title Item 5 Title Item 6 Title

Maximincto od essi sime voluptati ipis maximus liquatem voluptatur.






https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2019/10/uncovering-unconscious-racial-bias-lecture-examines-stereotypes-and-their-impacts

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/racial-injustice-detail

BIAS PROVES THESE TO BE FALSE

We may feel we treat people equally…

Hasenkamp, Wendy. (2020) Can We Change Racial Bias. Mind & Life Institute. Retrieved January 3, 2021. https://www.mindandlife.org/insight/can-change-racial-bias/38

We may be against racism and presume we are not racist…

We may believe women are equally capable and worthy as men…

We may think we are unbiased…

Vocally, we say one thing to be true, how we say/do/act…

We may believe we are well read and consider multiple perspectives…

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40FINAL REFLECTIONSWhat do you see as the #1 thing you can do to stop biases from taking over your ethical decision making?

What is the action, this week, you can take to remove bias and

misuse of power in your agency or in policy?

What will you do to end racial/ethnic/heteronormative/Christian-centric/gendered biases in the field?

How can you give or take power to overcome challenges you face in practice related to bias, biased colleagues, or partnering agencies?

What will it take to step forward and make both misuse of power and outright bias in our world a priority for you (if not already)?

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[email protected] 414-803-6372

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

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Andrews, Edmund. (2016) A Better Way to Defuse Racial Discrimination. Insights by Stanford Business. Retrieved January 12, 2020. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/better-way-diffuse-racial-discrimination

Apfelbaum, Evan P., Grunberg, Rebecca, Halevy, Nir, Kang, Sonia. (2017) From Ignorance to Intolerance: Perceived Intentionality of Racial Discrimination Shapes Preferences for Colorblindness Versus Multiculturalism. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Vol. 69, Pages 86-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2016.08.002

Bacon, Terry. (2011) The Elements of Power: Lessons on Leadership and Influence. Amacom.

Bacon, Terry. (2011) Role Power: The Key is to Inspire and Delegate, Not Command and Control. Talent Management & HR. Internet. https://www.tlnt.com/role-power-the-key-is-to-inspire-and-delegate-not-command-and-control/. Retrieved September 17, 2021.

Broom, Michael. (2002) The Infinite Organization: Celebrating the Positive Use of Power in Organizations. Nicholas Brealey Publishing: First Center for Human Systems Edition.

Daniels, David, Margaret Ann Neale, Lindred Greer. (2017) Spillover bias in diversity judgment. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. March 2017, Vol. 139, Pages 92-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2016.12.005

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Dolan, Kerry A. (2015) Why White People Downplay Their Individual Racial Privileges. Insights by Stanford Business. Retrieved March 16, 2021. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/why-whites-downplay-their-individual-racial-privileges

Freuh, Sara. (2019) Uncovering Unconscious Racial Bias: Lecture Examines Stereotypes and Their Impacts. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Retrieved March 16, 2021. https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2019/10/uncovering-unconscious-racial-bias-lecture-examines-stereotypes-and-their-impacts

Finucane, Melissa., Alhakami, Ali, Slovic, Paul, Johnson, Stephen M. The affect heuristic in judgments of risks and benefits. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making 13, (1) (2000). https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-0771(200001/03)13:1<1::AID-BDM333>3.0.CO;2-S

Hasenkamp, Wendy. (2020) Can We Change Racial Bias. Mind & Life Institute. Retrieved March 16, 2021. https://www.mindandlife.org/insight/can-change-racial-bias/

Lerner, Jennifer S., Li, Ye, Valdesolo, Piercarlo, Kassam, Karim S. Emotion and Decision Making. Annual Review of Psychology 66, pp. 799-823 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043

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Moser, J.S., Dougherty, A., Mattson, W.I. et al. (2017) Third-person self-talk facilitates emotion regulation without engaging cognitive control: Converging evidence from ERP and fMRI. Sci Rep 7, 4519. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04047-3

Slovic, Paul, Melissa L. Finucane, Ellen Peters, Donald G. MacGregor. The affect heuristic. European Journal of Operational Research Volume 177, (3) (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2005.04.006

Stevens Pearce, Alison. (2017) Think you’re not biased? Think again. Psychology Today & Science News For Students. Retrieved July 25, 2021. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/think-youre-not-biased-think-again

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VIDEOS: Liu, Eric. How to understand power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Eutci7ack

Thurston, Baratunde. How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time.https://www.ted.com/talks/baratunde_thurston_how_to_deconstruct_racism_one_headline_at_a_time

Myers, Verna. How to Overcome Our Biases & Walk Boldly Toward Them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYyvbgINZkQ

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https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/09/cognitive-bias/565775/

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-heuristic-2795235

https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-biases-distort-thinking-2794763


https://www.verywellmind.com/availability-heuristic-2794824

https://www.verywellmind.com/problems-in-decision-making-2795486

https://www.verywellmind.com/decision-making-strategies-2795483

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-affect-heuristic-2795028

http://humanhow.com/list-of-cognitive-biases-with-examples/

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report-July

http://kirwaninstitute.osu.edu/research/understanding-implicit-bias/

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/think-youre-not-biased-think-again

https://www.dismantlingracism.org/history.html

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Blinded By Bias and Power NASW FINAL

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