Empathy and implicit bias: Can empathy training improve equity?

Abstract

Bias is everywhere. Explicit biases include conscious attitudes or intentional discrimination towards certain groups. In contrast, implicit biases include attitudes or behaviors that exert powerful influence over individuals outside their awareness. These implicit biases can perpetuate health disparities by widening inequities and decreasing trust between patients and health professionals. Among the interventions to reduce the adverse impact of implicit bias on healthcare is empathy training. The authors describe a program of research on implicit bias towards individuals with mental illness, highlighting how enhancing empathy may improve equity for marginalized and underserved populations.