The Bias Inside Us

The Project

The Bias Inside Us is a Smithsonian traveling exhibition and community-engagement project that will raise awareness about the social science and impact of implicit bias. This exhibition provides an opportunity for people to learn about implicit bias and reflect on their own biases and how they impact their actions. Projects like this can expose us to other ideas and groups outside our own. This exposure can lead to meaningful dialogue, positive change, greater empathy, and increased inclusivity.

What to Expect

The Bias Inside Us unpacks and demystifies the concept of bias through compelling images, hands-on interactive and powerful testimonials and videos. The exhibition features six sections:

1. Introduction
2. The Science of Bias
3. Bias in Real Life
4. Serious Consequences—Bias is All Around Us
5. #RetrainYourBrain
6. Personal Reflection

The Bias Inside Us is grounded in decades of scientific research and educational work by psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji of Harvard University and Anthony G. Greenwald, professor emeritus at the University of Washington. They defined the term “implicit bias” through their work on unconscious and conscious mental processes. Their book Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People (Delacorte Press, 2013) explores the biases people carry based on their exposure to cultural attitudes on areas such as gender, race, social class, and disability status.