AFFINITY BIAS DEFINITION FULL

Affinity Bias in the WorkplaceĪs a positive bias, we are likely to favour people we have an affinity for and may not be aware of how this is impacting us. We prepare better, anticipate other viewpoints and expect that reaching consensus will take effort. It has also demonstrated that this will make us smarter. Research has shown that generally, yes, we will be more uncomfortable. If affinity bias means we like being around people that make us comfortable, is the opposite also true? Will we be uncomfortable in the presence of people not like us? It may not be correct, but we assume we can better understand each other. We all want to be around people that make us comfortable, and often that occurs when we can more easily relate to the other person. It’s uncomfortable knowing I’m biased, but it’s a form of unconscious bias we all share. Perhaps this was because I was sure of the way they looked, but was not certain of their views and opinions. In my brain’s wiring visual cues seem to be more influential than the fact that we shared a common interest in the topic of the meetup. In my case, I didn’t see anyone that looked like me. This likeness can be the way we look, our backgrounds, shared experiences or common interests. My irrational pause can be explained by affinity bias, which is a tendency to prefer people similar to ourselves or someone we know and like. I never had a bad experience then, so what was holding me back? The Opposite of Comfort is Discomfort While this must be a comic triviality for the many women who face the opposite situation on a daily basis, the last time I could remember being the only man in a group was in the odd Anthropology tutorial in University. Something deep in the back of my mind caused me to pause. We were all there for the same talk, so we had that in common. Many were smiling, and their expressions were warm.

And thus I found myself walking slowly into a room scanning unfamiliar faces.Įveryone was talking around a table, helping themselves to the drinks and snacks. Anticipating tardy arrivals, the organisers had smartly added a half hour buffer. Not knowing anyone else attending, I arrived 15 minutes late to avoid awkwardly standing around alone. Recently I had this experience when I went to an after-work event. Anything to stop the discomfort of being alone and exposed. Failing that, most of us will take almost anyone we know.

The first thing we do is scan the crowd for a familiar face.

AFFINITY BIAS DEFINITION FULL

We’ve all walked into a room full of people.

Affinity bias definition