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The Implications Of Psychological Research Related To Unconscious Discrimination And Implicit Bias In Proving Intentional Discrimination, Ivan E. Bodensteiner Jan 2008

The Implications Of Psychological Research Related To Unconscious Discrimination And Implicit Bias In Proving Intentional Discrimination, Ivan E. Bodensteiner

Law Faculty Publications

Building on the psychological research and publications indicating that much discrimination is unconscious and the result of implicit bias, this Article addresses the utility of laws that prohibit intentional discrimination in addressing this recently understood form of discrimination. More specifically, does unconscious discrimination violate a statute that prohibits intentional discrimination? The Article argues that the answer is yes.

Unconscious discrimination is the result of stereotyping or categorization, a cognitive mechanism used by most people to simplify the task of perceiving, processing and retaining information about people. Absent a special effort to overcome this cognitive mechanism in making decisions about people, …


Do Cognitive Biases Affect Adjudication?: A Study Of Labor Arbitrators (With Monica Biernat), Martin H. Malin, Monica Biernat Jan 2008

Do Cognitive Biases Affect Adjudication?: A Study Of Labor Arbitrators (With Monica Biernat), Martin H. Malin, Monica Biernat

All Faculty Scholarship

Labor arbitrators were presented with four cases to decide, each involving a challenge to discipline or discharge of an employee resulting from a work-family conflict. Arbitrators were randomly given versions of the cases in which the gender and one other characteristivc of the employee were varied. The results showed little evidence of direct gender bias in decision-making but did reflect bias against single parents and employees with eldercare, as opposed to childcare, responsibilities. Implications for other adjudicators, including judges, jurors and administrative agency officials are discussed.


Implications Of Psychological Research Related To Unconscious Discrimination And Implicit Bias In Proving Intentional Discrimination, The, Ivan E. Bodensteiner Jan 2008

Implications Of Psychological Research Related To Unconscious Discrimination And Implicit Bias In Proving Intentional Discrimination, The, Ivan E. Bodensteiner

Missouri Law Review

Taking into account recent psychological research related to implicit bias and discrimination, this article will address proof of intent in disparate treatment cases. Part II of the article will examine a likely source of proof of discrimination - comments made by agents of the defendant. Courts frequently discount such comments, labeling them as "stray remarks" and either excluding them as evidence or determining that they are insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment. Derogatory comments directed at an individual, based on certain characteristics the speaker attributes to the individual, provide substantial insight into how the speaker assesses people. For …


Do Cognitive Biases Affect Adjudication?: A Study Of Labor Arbitrators (With Monica Biernat), Martin H. Malin, Monica Biernat Dec 2007

Do Cognitive Biases Affect Adjudication?: A Study Of Labor Arbitrators (With Monica Biernat), Martin H. Malin, Monica Biernat

Martin H. Malin

Labor arbitrators were presented with four cases to decide, each involving a challenge to discipline or discharge of an employee resulting from a work-family conflict. Arbitrators were randomly given versions of the cases in which the gender and one other characteristivc of the employee were varied. The results showed little evidence of direct gender bias in decision-making but did reflect bias against single parents and employees with eldercare, as opposed to childcare, responsibilities. Implications for other adjudicators, including judges, jurors and administrative agency officials are discussed.