In a scenario where a police officer unconsciously perceives a greater threat from a Black individual than a White individual despite knowing both are unarmed, which type of bias is primarily at play?

In this scenario, the type of bias at play is called implicit bias. Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions unconsciously. Even if the police officer consciously believes in equality and treats everyone fairly, their brain might still associate certain traits or threats with different racial groups due to societal influences and experiences. For example, if the officer sees a Black individual and feels a stronger sense of threat, it shows that their unconscious mind is reacting based on learned stereotypes rather than the reality of the situation. This highlights the importance of training and awareness to help individuals recognize and manage their implicit biases.