You learn a lot by watching people in prison.
For instance, you can witness the way certain attitudes dismantle one’s ability to think critically. You can witness how fear dominates certain people to make irrational decisions, such as, joining a gang, or doing something foolish to portray themselves as someone they are not. Often times, you can quickly identify how an individual’s nature landed them in prison, but they are blind to seeing it for themselves.
I remember my first semester in the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI), and just how many students had fostered an entitlement mentality. Some students felt that they should be entitled to lesser restrictions, reduced or no punishments (for rule breaking), and more resources for study and leisure, simply because they were enrolled in CPI. Their entitlement complex (and behaviors thereof) backfired. It created a wedge of animosity between administration and students, so much so, that it resulted in the reduction of allotted times for study and the removal of certain leisure activities, but I digress.
Then there are the attitudes of those who are blind to their own genius. Everyone sees their brilliance and intelligence, and tells them so, yet they are unable to see it for themselves. What’s the pattern here? All of these examples are of individuals who aren’t looking for blind spots, that is, holes in their perception, holes in their mental processes, holes in their attitudes. I wish I could watch myself from the outside just so I can get a glimpse of my blind spots. I know they’re there; everyone has them.
They’re also physical blind spots everywhere in prison. Every prisoner is privy to them, because they serve as safe havens for bending or breaking the rules without being seen. I find it astonishing that we prisoners know more about the cracks and hacks and vulnerabilities of the prison system than the blind spots of our own mentalities, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. I find it astonishing because our mental blind spots influence and shape our identity and character, and yet, our mental blind spots are not as relevant to us, as, let’s say, searching for a blind spot to exchange goods on the prison yard.
However, blind spots are not limited to prison life. They’re everywhere. In the world of psychology a type of mental blind spot is called “biases.” Psychologists have discovered that we all have built-in biases from our upbringing, experiences, and culture. I was thinking of these particular blind spots below because they are liability to human potential, opportunities, reform and rehabilitation. Prisoners and staff and the world at large have biases. Biases that divide us rather than harmonize us. Thus, here are six types of blind spots that I have identified that can really get in the way of flourshing:
1) Confirmation Bias, a bias that exclusively seeks for evidence to support our view. We’ll search for information to prove our beliefs but will not search for, or pay attention to data that poses as a formidable challenge to them;
2) Conviction Bias, this is where we believe in something so powerfully (without evidence, without testing, without question), that it becomes truth to us;
3) Appearance Bias, this is where we judge a book by its cover. In other words, where we merely accept something at face value without investigating;
4) The Group Bias, where we exclusively listen to our own ideas without weighing in the group’s ideas;
5) The Blame Bias, this is where someone makes a grave, embarrassing or shameful mistake that it’s too much for them to face, therefore, they find something else to blame to ease their pain; and
6) The Superiority Bias, this is where an individual believes they are better, smarter, and more ethical than everyone else.
In my opinion, these six biases produce counterproductive human characteristics. I’ve noticed that these particular biases stem from the claim “I believe,” rather than “I have found,” or “I have tested and researched,” or “I have learned that.” To me, these biases produce asocial thinking, meaning, they don’t weigh in other people’s views, opinions, or even empirical evidence. They’re blind spots because they produce intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict. These biases are liabilities because (for most part) they derail empathy, mutual respect and understanding for others, their opinions and views.
Whether we realize it or not, biases play a vital role in how we direct our path in life.These biases made me realize just how much power and influence they have over decision making, such as, seizing a good opportunity while being blind to a powerfully great opportunity. Understanding these biases made me come to see myself through a clearer intrapersonal and interpersonal lens. Identifying my biases enabled me to see how they influenced my life, and how they served as a detriment to me in the past.
Staying vigilant on my biases is a work in progress. But, looking around, if I am going to understand myself and relate to others, it’s a work that I have to continually engage in to help make a better world. Identifying your biases can be a powerful ally too, because they’ll open your eyes to potential and powerful opportunities, while serving as humble reminders of what connects us: our fragility and our humanity.