Haunting our Biases
Subtitle: Using Participatory Theatre to Interrupt Implicit Bias
Publisher: eCampusOntario Open Authoring Platform; Pressbooks
Published: 2022-02-28
Language: eng
Format: Ebook
Copyright date: 2022
Subjects: Personal and public health / health education; Educational: drama and performance arts; Educational: citizenship and social education
Other titles: Haunting our Biases
Description: <p>This project invites learners to deepen their self-reflexivity about the implicit biases that they hold, and the impact of not addressing these biases. In participatory theatre, this kind of invitation for self-exploration can haunt us. Haunting refers to the thoughts that remain after the educational encounter, leaving a lasting impression that can evoke self-reflexive actions and behaviours.  <strong>Our purpose</strong> is to help people slow down, reflect, and recognize that sometimes our responses to situations and people are based on assumptions, that are guided by implicit biases rather than facts. If we can get in the habit of slowing ourselves down and considering how our biases might be shaping our decisions and conclusions, we can then explore alternative interpretations. This in turn helps us to consider more ethical, just, and respectful responses. Recognizing and minimizing implicit bias is a <em>process</em>. There is no end point. There are, however, starting points, and also “starting again” points. Our hope that learners will leave this educational encounter haunted—reflecting on what they have learned in such a way that the knowledge and the reflexive skills gained stay with them throughout their careers.</p>

This project invites learners to deepen their self-awareness about the implicit biases that they hold. In participatory theatre, this kind of invitation for self-exploration can haunt us, leaving a lasting impression that can evoke self-reflexive actions and behaviours.