What is the difference between explicit and unconscious bias?

Both explicit bias and unconscious bias involve prejudiced attitudes that can lead to discriminatory actions and decisions.

They differ in a few essential respects:

  • Explicit bias: Conscious, deliberate, and openly expressed prejudice
  • Unconscious bias: Automatic, involuntary, and not consciously recognized prejudice

When people claim to be unbiased, they typically have explicit biases in mind, unaware that they have unconscious biases.