Everyday Bias
Your classmate says, “You’re so articulate for an immigrant!” What kind of bias is this?
A) Compliment on language skills
B) Microaggression
C) Cultural curiosity
B) Microaggression / Linguistic bias
A client offers food from their culture, and the therapist refuses.
What’s happening here?
A) Cultural discomfort
B) Proper professional distance
C) Boundary violation
A) Cultural discomfort → missed connection
A faculty panel has 10 men, 0 women.
What type of bias is represented?
A) Merit-based selection
B) Representation bias
C) Coincidence
B) Representation bias / systemic exclusion
Unconscious-bias training focuses on:
A) System-level policy
B) Individual awareness
C) Team building
B) Individual awareness
A client says their religion helps them heal, but the therapist changes topic.
Best fix?
A) Invite discussion with respect
B) Keep focus on evidence-based techniques
C) Redirect to treatment goals
A) Invite discussion with respect → show cultural humility
Your supervisor says, “Let’s not talk about race; therapy is neutral.”What’s wrong here?
A) They’re maintaining professional boundaries
B) They’re ignoring cultural context
C) They’re prioritizing objectivity
B) They’re ignoring cultural context / color-blind bias
A therapist avoids using a client’s pronouns because “it’s hard to remember.”
That’s an example of:
A) Communication breakdown
B) Gender identity disrespect
C) Forgetfulness
B) Gender identity disrespect / trans microaggression
Admissions rely only on GRE scores.
This is an example of:
A) Structural bias
B) Academic rigor
C) Neutral testing
A) Structural bias / class bias
Changing recruitment policies is an example of:
A) Systemic (s-frame)
B) Personal growth
C) Team bonding
A) Systemic (s-frame) reform
A therapist stereotypes an Indigenous client as “resilient by nature.”
Best fix?
A) Praise the client
B) Avoid romanticized stereotypes
C) Emphasize cultural strengths
B) Avoid romanticized stereotypes; listen to their actual story
A psychologist assumes a male client is the “breadwinner.”
This shows:
A) Gender role bias
B) Positive reinforcement
C) Family system awareness
A) Gender role bias / stereotyping
A trainee misinterprets a client’s silence as “resistance,” ignoring cultural norms.
What bias is this?
A) Cultural misinterpretation bias
B) Cognitive bias
C) Clinical intuition
A) Cultural misinterpretation bias
A professor tells a student with ADHD, “Try harder next time.”
This shows:
A) Motivational feedback
B) Ableist bias; ignores accommodation needs
C) Constructive criticism
B) Ableist bias; ignores accommodation needs
A therapist journaling about their own bias reflects:
A) Self (i-frame)
B) Research bias
C) Administrative duty
A) Self (i-frame) action
A client’s consent form is full of jargon.
How should this be fixed?
A) Explain once quickly
B) Use plain-language forms and interpreter support
C) Leave it unchanged; it’s standardized
B) Use plain-language forms and interpreter support
A student jokes, “She’s so OCD about cleaning.”
What bias does this reveal?
A) Humor bias
B) Diagnostic trivialization
C) Moral judgment
B) Diagnostic trivialization / ableism
A therapist laughs off a racist remark from another client.
What bias appears here?
A) Humor as coping
B) Bystander bias
C) Overreaction avoidance
B) Bystander bias / failure to advocate
A student with an accent is repeatedly asked, “Where are you really from?”
What’s this called?
A) Othering
B) Friendly curiosity
C) Ice-breaking
A) Othering / xenophobia
A clinic adds a ramp and accessible forms.
That’s:
A) Individual initiative
B) Systemic (s-frame)
C) Financial bias
B) Systemic (s-frame) accessibility change
A therapy team argues about a cultural issue.
Best ethical move?
A) Consult diverse peers / supervision using an ethical decision model
B) Take a vote
C) Avoid the topic to keep peace
A) Consult diverse peers / supervision using an ethical decision model
A student says, “Talking about racism just divides people—we should focus on kindness instead.”
A) Dismissive
B) Positive thinking
C) Political neutrality
A) Dismissive / minimization bias
Therapist assumes client is straight until told otherwise.
A) Heteronormative bias
B) Neutral assumption
C) Rapport
A) Heteronormative bias
University marketing shows only white families in ads.
A) Exclusion
B) Branding choice
C) Random sample
A) Representation bias / exclusion
Supervisor requires “reflection journals” after training.
A) Self (i-frame)
B) System reform
C) Time waster
A) Self (i-frame)
Policy team creates inclusive forms for gender + pronouns.
A) Self effort
B) System change
C) Awareness poster
B) System change