Implicit cognitive processing Implicit cognitive processing (ICP) examines the implicit and explicit influences within our memory processes (Lucas et al., 2019). Some memories are unconsciously kept, meaning there is no known retrieval of the memory when it is used in determining how we should react to the environment. Instead, we see pieces pulled from our memories and used in our behaviors as daily habits, thought conditioning, and cognitive assumptions. The brain continues to reshape itself to reflect the environment in which we live. ICP plays Cognitive biases There are many types of cognitive biases (i.e., thinking, reasoning, and remembering biases). These biases can cause diagnostic errors on the part of the healthcare provider and negative choices on the part of the patient. Here are a few types of bias, along with examples seen in healthcare (Berthet, 2022): ● Affinity bias: Tending to gravitate to or favor people who remind us of ourselves. An example is a high- achieving female physician who is overlooked for a position by a mostly male hiring panel. This is considered an affinity bias due to the natural preference to associate and work with people who are like us. ● Availability bias: Evaluating the probability of events by the events that come to mind first. An example is a young mother refusing to vaccinate their child after reading a news article on the topic. The information about vaccines was readily available, and the mother’s decision was based solely on the article’s information. ● Omission bias: Preferring harm caused by omissions over equal or lesser harm caused by choosing to participate in an action. An example is a patient diagnosed with atrial fibrillation declining to take a blood thinner because they fear hemorrhagic stroke more than ischemic stroke. The patient is choosing between possibly equal consequences. ● Anchoring bias: Tending to make a decision or judgement based on initial information rather than all information gathered. An example is making a diagnosis based entirely on the initial symptoms shared rather than all subsequent symptoms. ● Confirmation bias: Choosing to review only information that is in favor of the person’s belief. An example is choosing to review only information that is pertinent to the provider’s previously established diagnosis and dismissing any data that do not support the decided upon diagnosis. ● Overconfidence bias: Overestimating one’s ability, knowledge, or understanding. An example is a provider who is certain they are correct in their diagnosis and thus refuses to order additional tests to ensure accuracy of the diagnosis, to consider other forms of treatment, or to thoroughly assess the patient for other possible diagnoses. Could you relate to any of these biases? Or perhaps an example stood out to you as something you have seen in your professional practice. There are many biases, and in the scenarios shared above, each bias caused an effect that
a role in the brain's neuroplasticity (which will be further discussed in this course in relation to mitigation strategies) by continually adjusting to reflect the common occurrences within the environment. ICP has been used to develop policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and laws where implicit biases can unintentionally influence outcomes. Examples include the introduction of blind auditions and blind job interviews as well as removing gender markings from resumes before a hiring team views them. could have potentially produced a negative outcome for the patient. Video: Cognitive Bias
Let us do a quick recap of why many of our first impressions are usually wrong: ● Our brain filters the information around us, which may be filtering out what is essential information that was needed in our decision-making process. ● We fill in the story's blanks with imagined details based on our own assumptions, meanings, and stories from previous experiences. ● Quick decisions are made as a self-serving protective mechanism using the emotional parts of our brain rather than the critical and analytical thinking parts of our brain. ● We develop a process in our brain through implicit memory that includes previous memories, experiences, and beliefs that continually reinforce our reactions as the correct action or belief. Self-Assessment Question 1 Which area of the brain is mostly involved when the brain codes threatening? a. Precuneus b. Temporoparietal junction c. Amygdala d. Prefrontal cortex
Self-Assessment Question 2 What information does our brain categorize at the beginning of an interaction? a. Age
b. Weight c. Speech d. All the above
TERMINOLOGY
Discrimination is a behavior that treats people unequallybecause of their group membership or association. Example : A female employee receives less compensation for equivalent work when compared to her male counterpart.
There are other terms you will see highlighted and discussed within the context of bias. We will break these terms down to ensure you have a good understanding of what they are and why they are discussed in the context of bias (Witter, 2022).
Page 53
Book Code: MMD0926
EliteLearning.com/Massage-Therapy
Powered by FlippingBook