Diversity Resource Guide: Implicit Association Test

As stated on the website, the IAT measures implicit attitudes and beliefs that people are either unwilling or unable to report.  The theory is that our minds are constantly absorbing and integrating messages about socially ascribed groups (race, gender, religion, etc) and the value, or lack of, associated to the group.  The test reflects how this affects our decision-making and behaviors in subtle, unconscious ways, often contrary to our explicitly expressed values.  I like to think of implicit associations as the well-worn ruts in your brain.  These ruts are worn deeper by the messages, overt and covert, received from birth of what it means to be male, female, straight, gay, black, white, able, disabled, etc.  So if I see Whites predominantly portrayed as good and Blacks predominantly as bad (see evening news), then my default reaction, before I actually think, is to be nervous about being in the presence of a Black male.  My thinking might correct the default physiological response, but my behavior has already been affected and likely to influence the interaction negatively. 

For more information about the test, read chapter three of Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink. 

What does IAT have to do with diversity in our classroom?

First, all teachers should take the various Implicit Association Tests.  The goal is not make people feel bad or guilty, but to realize how these associations affect interpersonal interactions.  Secondly, any effort to undo oppression and bias is enhanced when the IAT is used to help candidate allies explore their own thinking.  With courage and compassion, I believe integration of the IAT should be an integral part of anti-bias, anti-oppression, ally building programming.  I believe one of IAT’s strength is its ability to expose privilege enjoyed by members of dominant social groups. I believe participants must be 13 or older to use the online demonstration tests.  I have successfully used the paper-based gender test found in Blink with 5th grade and college students.  The goal is create an experience exposing the discomfort that arises when the tests challenges the participant to make an unfamiliar association.