GAR Diversity Consulting presents Under The Radar

GAR Diversity Consulting, LLC Proprietary

Barbara B. Adams, PsyD

Under the Radar: exploring beliefs and assumptions about race & each other

Feb 2016

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Agenda

Developing Beliefs & Assumptions

The Big 5: Reasons we believe

The Primordial Power of Beliefs & Assumptions

Challenging our Beliefs & Assumptions

Designs for Life: Creating Belief Systems that Work Inclusively

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From the moment we arrive into the world….

Developing Beliefs and Assumptions

…we begin developing our belief system.

Newborn babies lack a developed capability for rational, logical deduction.

Our first beliefs are based on our experience of the world.

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As we grow and mature….

Developing Beliefs & Assumptions

…our skills, knowledge, abilities and our understanding of the world expands.

The beliefs and assumptions we develop are typically based on five general methods of information gathering…

…only one method stems directly from our ability to use critical thinking.

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Reasons We Believe

The Big 5

1. Evidence

2. Tradition

3. Authority

4. Association

5. Revelation

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• Evidence shows that one thing causes another• Understanding causation appeals to the analytical, logical parts of

our brains• Skills associated with evidence-based beliefs develop as we grow

and mature and through education- we look at events that are measurable- we look at where one thing causes another- we may examine scientific studies and test hypotheses

Evidence-based believing

Evidence

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Personal experience of cause & effect = belief

Evidence

For example: You are walking to your car at night. A person of a different race robs you at gunpoint. Therefore, you may begin to believe it’s best to avoid all people of that race.

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Adopting Traditional Beliefs

Tradition

Traditions perpetuated through family and society are a major factor in developing our beliefs & assumptions.

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Primary Belief Systems come from Family & Cultural Traditions

Tradition

Social and familial culture and preferences strongly influence the formation of:

• Specific religious practices to support

• Which political party to vote for

• What sports teams to cheer for

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Self Reflection

Tradition

Ask yourself:

What role has tradition played in my belief system?“We are so conditioned…with belief, with tradition,

with the past, that this actually prevents us from seeing or listening.”

- J. Krishnamurti

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Non-familial Figures May Influence Belief

Authority

Examples:

- Clinicians who are considered experts in their field - A school teacher you admire and look up to - Media messages: advertising & social networks

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Who do you hang out with?

Association

A person’s identity is in large part a function of their role in a group (e.g. the family, the work team, a community group, et cetera).

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Basically, this is the experience of attaining information through:• An intuition or premonition about something• A gut feeling or sense about something• An insight• Your imagination

“ I just have a hunch…”

Revelation

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“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge…for knowledge is limitedto all we know now and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

When asked about the source of his wild ideas, Einstein said:

Revelation

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• Most beliefs we hold have not originated with us

- We adopted what made sense based on our experience and understanding at that time

- We continue to develop our belief systems by agreeing with ideas that come into our awareness

Our beliefs and assumptions guide nearly everything we do!

The Art and Magic of Believing

The Power of Beliefs & Assumptions

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• Review your beliefs and ask with nonattachment:

“ do they have a solid basis and do they serve me well?”

“do I feel threatened when my beliefs seem to fall short or come under attack?”

“am I truly open to the differing views of others?”

“do I have biases/preferences that I need to examine?”

Internal fortitude and maturity are required to…

Challenging our Beliefs & Assumptions

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How Beliefs & Assumptions relate to Diversity & Inclusion

Creating Belief Systems that work Inclusively

Invisible dimensions of thought are assumptions, values & beliefs

Visible dimensions of thought is behavior Cause & effect relationship: Behavior is a direct

result of what people assume, value or believe

Self reflection: Have I formed any beliefs and assumptions about other people or groups based on

shaky ground?

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Engaging in meaningful dialogue about workforce diversity, healthcare inequities and the challenges and possibilities is essentialto foster positive change.

Facilitating meaningful dialogue…

Moving Forward…

“Getting Along with Three Generations in the Workforce”

“Minorities have Degrees, but Don’t Get Hired”

“Lack of Qualified Candidates to Fill Healthcare Jobs a Global Problem”

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References & Recommended Reading

• Building Cultural Competence edited by K. Berardo and D.K. Deardorff, 2012.

• Difficult Conversations by D. Stone, B. Patton and S. Heen, 2010.

• The Diversity Toolkit by W. Sonnenschein, 1999.

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Open Discussion

Continuing the conversation:

Follow me on Twitter @DrBarbAdams

My blog at http://www.drbarbadams.com