Difference between revisions of "Representation Bias"

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(Created page with "Mistaking representatives of a certain subset of a category for representing the wider category as a whole. For example, a psychologist may not meet any mentally healthy indiv...")
 
 
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When applied to a category of human beings, this is a [[facet of categorism]].
 
When applied to a category of human beings, this is a [[facet of categorism]].
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When Representation Bias occurs on the [[group level]] in a context of scientific research, it is known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selection_bias Selection Bias].
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==Interactions==
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This [[facet of categorism]] is an expression of [[prejudice]].<br>
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It is likely to intersect with facets such as:
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* ''[[Unchecked Aversion]]'':  Letting the negative experiences grow into bigotry. 
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* ''[[Malpractice]]'':  It is hard to understand people, and thus treat them right, when you don't encounter them in a neutral way.
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As well as with [[abstractions of categorism|abstractions]] such as:
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* ''[[Equivocation]]'': Deciding that "a much wider group" and "a certain small sub-set of said group" is actually the same thing.
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Examples of applying this facet to a particular [[foci of categorism]] can include:
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* ''[[Racism]]'': As a psychiatrist with no dark-skinned friends or co-workers, your personal experience is that every single dark-skinned person you meet have severe mental problems (because those who don't are far less likely to seek your help as a psychiatrist)... if this leads you to believe that you know something about the mental health of dark-skinned people in general, it makes you rather racist.
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==Representation Bias in example texts==
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* [[Adam's homophobia]]: Adam reducing gay people to sexual acts and assume almost everyone to be heterosexual – gays who don't misbehave doesn't count as “gay” to him.

Latest revision as of 12:56, 27 November 2015

Mistaking representatives of a certain subset of a category for representing the wider category as a whole. For example, a psychologist may not meet any mentally healthy individuals from a certain minority – yet believe that his experience of mental patients from that minority is an experience of how people from that minority group are in general. (In Swedish: representationsbias)

When applied to a category of human beings, this is a facet of categorism.

When Representation Bias occurs on the group level in a context of scientific research, it is known as Selection Bias.

Interactions

This facet of categorism is an expression of prejudice.

It is likely to intersect with facets such as:

  • Unchecked Aversion: Letting the negative experiences grow into bigotry.
  • Malpractice: It is hard to understand people, and thus treat them right, when you don't encounter them in a neutral way.

As well as with abstractions such as:

  • Equivocation: Deciding that "a much wider group" and "a certain small sub-set of said group" is actually the same thing.

Examples of applying this facet to a particular foci of categorism can include:

  • Racism: As a psychiatrist with no dark-skinned friends or co-workers, your personal experience is that every single dark-skinned person you meet have severe mental problems (because those who don't are far less likely to seek your help as a psychiatrist)... if this leads you to believe that you know something about the mental health of dark-skinned people in general, it makes you rather racist.

Representation Bias in example texts

  • Adam's homophobia: Adam reducing gay people to sexual acts and assume almost everyone to be heterosexual – gays who don't misbehave doesn't count as “gay” to him.