
Have you ever experienced that moment in a conversation when you realize you said or did something offensive in the mind of the person you’re talking to? Quite possibly, you notice a disapproving look on their face or a quick reply about how insensitive your comment felt to them. Most likely, you weren’t intending to be hurtful. Sometimes even a compliment can have the opposite effect if you’re lacking awareness of your own unconscious stereotypes. These kinds of communications are often considered microaggressions. That is, indirect, subtle, or even unintentional statements or actions that negatively affect someone from a marginalized group. Because a little understanding goes a long way, we want to provide some perspective about unconscious bias and how it can lead to microaggressions, as well as some suggestions for how to examine and address your own. What happens in our unconscious mind? Neuropsychology research suggests that only about 5% of our brain function is conscious while 95% is unconscious. It is fascinating how…