Based out of New York, available globally
Why do we need a bias reduction theory and training?
Even for the most seasoned professional cultural factors are likely to elicit emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical reactions. Everyone has biases related to culturally held assumptions and values; attitudes related to ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender and other identities; and worldviews including one’s political, religious, and moral views. Awareness of implicit bias is insufficient in reducing the impact of bias, prejudice, and racism on individuals, interpersonal relationships, health, and organizational performance. What is need is awareness, and skill development. The Crawford Bias Reduction Theory and Training (CBRT) provides a systematic approach to increasing awareness, investigating manifestations, and reducing bias, prejudice, and racism.
Crawford Bias Reduction Theory
The theory portion of CBRT model posits that categorizing humans based their cultural identities is psychologically normative. Additionally, when there are questions about the availability of resources, humans then develop fears about those they are unfamiliar with. These fears are then communicated to children and loved ones in the community. When resources are no longer in questions, previous fears and biases remain. With globalization, the communication of fears and biases get perpetuated. Via relationships, media, education, and personal experiences our biases become more nuanced developing into things like racism, prejudice, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of bias. We may be trying our best to overcome these biases and are well intentioned, however just as biases develop systematically, we must systematically undo bias. In short, bias is not a question of one’s character or moral believes, but instead a socially transmitted disease we are all infected with. CBRT is a systematic approach to reduce that infection.
Crawford Bias Reduction Training
The training begins with presenting the model and creating a brave space for important and sensitive cultural reflection. Next, training introduces the frame of the model which focuses on awareness of how folx became infected with bias, investigation of how bias gets activated and manifests, and how to reduce the impact of bias. Participants are then invited on a journey of didactics, experiential exercises, cultural dialogues, and practicing concrete building bias reducing skills.
Qualitative Feedback
- “I want you to come talk to all the different groups in my life because man this was a beautiful experience that really helped me in my development.”
- “I had a round table discussion with my kids with the scenarios”
- “Definitely the best presentation on this essential topic I have ever experienced”
- “I have quoted that presentation daily since then”
- “It took a very difficult topic and made it into easily applicable scenarios”
- “I feel more prepared to address some of the difficult/challenging/ vulgar/ disrespectful language that I hear our adolescent clients use.”
- “Fantastic! The best multicultural/diversity competency training I’ve attended – hands down. Very authentic, specific, and engaging. I will highly recommend to others.”
- “…She reported out a lot of hidden biases that I was not even aware of before.”
- “I am generally not a fan of experiential exercises, but found yours useful.”
- “Experiential exercises, first seems like a pain but end up being really useful”
- “This is the best training I’ve been to on multiculturalism in the last 15 years! Thank you, keep doing it just the way you are doing it. Inspirational, I am a better person”
Recent Media
Crawford Bias Reduction Theory Explained on News 12
Recommendations for Antiracism Parenting on News 12
http://bronx.news12.com/clip/15080385/parenting-411-talking-with-children-about-racism