The primitive me is a bit racist: Noticing the thoughts embedded with negative racial stereotypes

I have done Harvard University’s Implicit Association Test, and it confirms that my inner thought processes are riddled with unconscious bias.

This, apparently, is normal; to keep safe, the primitive part of my brain needs to quickly categorise people into groups.

But the problem is, if it is inevitable that I will have unconscious bias, then why would I bother changing that? And there seems to be a lot of evidence that I have bias, but not a lot of help to reduce it.

I might be able to shut down the hard-wired circuits that want to group people together with negative associations

In desperation I downloaded ChatGPT and asked: “How can I reduce my unconscious racial bias?”

It was truly frightening that 10 seconds later, the robot gave me a 450-word, 10-point list. Really? I’ve been pondering this for years.

The AI app’s advice was pretty good. It said I should educate myself about different cultures, notice my biases, be reflective, practice empathy, try seeing things from other perspectives, expand my social circles, challenge stereotypes, keep away from Fox News, get involved in diversity initiatives and be open to feedback.

It seems if I focus on each person as unique with their own story, I might be able to shut down the hard-wired circuits that want to group people together with negative associations.

Like many doctors, I feel I do a fair few of these things at least some of the time.

But I still have these horrifying moments of noticing the thoughts that float through my head…sadly, often thoughts embedded with negative racial stereotypes.

I tried Google, which told me it’s good I am noticing these thoughts and feelings. That’s a great start.

I’m told suppressing the thoughts doesn’t work, because I will act on them anyway.

If I get anxious about the thoughts, that stress might come across as “dislike” in my interactions with other ethnic groups and then, when they give me feedback, I will sink into the fail zone of white fragility.

So, I’m trying to stay calm about my basically racist, unwanted, interior self and I’m relieved that change will happen, not because of external pressure but because my internal motivation to be better is pretty high.

In the end, the most interesting thing was to chat about it with some wise mates. A wāhine Māori workmate told me she walks down Lambton Quay watching those walking towards her and noticing her immediate thoughts and judgements, and immediately challenging herself for them.

It is daily practice on the way to work. Brilliant.

My New Zealand-born colleague with Indian whakapapa is a bit sick of patients saying, “You speak good English.” Small microaggressions of racism happen daily. I’m no doubt performing them myself without much awareness.

Both these wise heads say that we need to understand structural racism and the way privilege is manifest for certain groups, like mine.

It occurs to me unconditional positive regard is an antidote to negative racial stereotyping.

And there is curiosity, holding a position of not knowing about the person in front of me, instead of assuming that I do know, based on little information.

I contemplate being mana enhancing and how that might mean I’m looking to raise others up, and I’m thinking I might need to whakaiti myself (be humble). That might mean shutting up, speaking less, not speaking over and allowing other voices. That’s hard: I quite like voicing my own ideas.

And can I really take feedback when the unconscious racial bias has leaked out of me, and I didn’t even realise? I hope so.

It really helps if I start from the position that I’m so full of racial bias I’m f***ked and any bit of help is to be relished. So fire away in the Comment section.

ChatGPT concluded with: “Remember that reducing unconscious racial bias is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and self-reflection. It is important to approach this work with humility, patience, and a commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity in your thoughts, words, and actions.”

Crikey, that sounds like a priest talking to me.

I wonder, is ChatGPT the new font of moral wisdom?

Lucy O’Hagan is a medical educator and specialist GP working in the Wellington region