What’s your favourite vegetable?

2 min read · July 19, 2024
New Power Labs

This simple question can help us overcome our unconscious bias.

When we meet someone new — specifically someone of a different racial group than ours — our brain has a habit of viewing the person as a representative of a group rather than their own individual. Even if we do not consciously mean to stereotype people we meet, our unconscious biases can lead to hidden stereotyping that we are not aware of.

To avoid this implicit stereotyping, research has shown that asking someone you just met a question as simple as “What is your favourite vegetable” can limit the tendency to stereotype and allow for an individualization of the person. 

In his book, Deep Diversity, Shakil Choudhury states, “the power of curiosity can help humanize others”. Asking questions interrupts the brain's inclination to register an individual as a member of a racial group rather than their own individual with unique attributes. 

Sometimes, the power of curiosity is enough to humanize an individual, and break common patterns of unconscious stereotyping. 

So, what is your favourite vegetable? 

Narinder

New Power Labs

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