Beyond Implicit Bias: Embodied Cognition, Mindfulness, and Critical Reflective Practice in Social Work

Implicit bias is not confined to the brain but arises from a dynamic system involving the living body and its social, cultural, and historical context, according to the embodied cognition paradigm. This perspective offers more relevant insights for social work than traditional psychology and cognitive science, which focus on the individual self or brain. Mindfulness combined with critical reflective practice can help catch and process the visceral moment of bias and interrupt its effect. Effective intervention strategies must be multi-faceted, targeting both professional training in embodied self-awareness and broader organizational and institutional changes to address the cultural and social environment that shapes bias.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Implicit bias studies in psychology and cognitive science focus primarily on the individual self, and more recently on the brain. In this article, we argue that the embodied cognition paradigm, which encompasses both the functional body and the environment, can provide more relevant insights for social work. Implicit bias is not just in the brain. It is in the dynamic systems process of a living body that constitutes, and is constituted by, the social, cultural and historical conditions. We explore the potential of mindfulness combined with critical reflective practice in catching and processing the visceral moment of bias and in interrupting its effect. We underline the importance of including interventions that target the environment—the cultural and social context—which constitutes the other aspect of embodied cognition. We argue for the development of integrated and multi-faceted intervention strategies to address implicit bias that include professional training in embodied self-awareness as well as organisational and institutional changes. IMPLICATIONS The embodied cognition paradigm that integrates the body and the environment offers a wider lens to address implicit bias than the current dominant psychological and biological focused approach. Teaching body awareness combined with critical reflective practice can enhance anti-oppressive and critical social work practice. Intervention strategies to interrupt the impact of implicit bias must be multi-faceted to include the whole dynamic body system and the organisational and cultural contexts.