Which statement describes unconscious attitudes that affect understanding, actions, and decisions?

• A. Explicit Bias
• B. Implicit Bias
• C. Sympathy
• D. Empathy

Answer: (B)

Unconscious attitudes that shape how we understand others, influence what we do, and guide our choices are called implicit bias. These automatic associations arise from culture, experience, and social messages and often sit below our conscious awareness. They can subtly steer how we interpret a patient’s symptoms, how much time we give them, the questions we ask, and which treatment options we deem appropriate, even when we intend to be fair. For example, a clinician might unconsciously assume a patient from a certain background won’t adhere to an exercise plan, leading to less thorough counseling or a more conservative treatment approach, regardless of the patient’s actual abilities or motivation. Recognizing that these biases exist helps us counter them with deliberate practices like structured assessments, patient-centered interviewing, and reflective practice to keep decisions focused on the individual’s needs.

Explicit bias is bias we are consciously aware of and could report, while sympathy and empathy describe emotional responses to others—feeling pity or understanding and sharing feelings, respectively. These do not capture the automatic, hidden attitudes that can quietly affect judgment and action in professional settings.