What is Explicit bias?
Explicit bias is a consciously held attitude or belief about a social group that the person is aware of and can report. Unlike implicit bias, which operates outside awareness, explicit bias is deliberately endorsed.
How it works
Explicit biases are measured through self-report surveys and are subject to social desirability effects: people may underreport biases they consider socially unacceptable. Explicit biases predict deliberate, controlled behaviors (voting, policy preferences) better than implicit biases do, while implicit biases better predict spontaneous, uncontrolled behaviors (snap judgments, nonverbal behavior). Both types independently contribute to discriminatory behavior.
Applied example
A person who openly states that women are less suited for leadership roles holds an explicit gender bias. This differs from someone who endorses gender equality but unconsciously associates leadership with male names on an Implicit Association Test.
Why it matters
Explicit bias matters because it drives intentional discrimination and shapes policy preferences, and reducing it requires different strategies (education, contact, persuasion) than addressing implicit bias.
