Bias vs. Discrimination: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 27, 2023
Bias is a personal and often unreasoned judgment or prejudice. Discrimination is unjust or prejudicial treatment based on certain characteristics.
Key Differences
Bias refers to a tendency or inclination, often unfair, affecting one's judgment or decision-making. Discrimination, on the other hand, involves acting upon such biases to unfairly treat individuals or groups differently, based on characteristics like race, gender, or age.
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Bias can be subconscious or conscious, influencing perspectives or choices without deliberate intent. Discrimination manifests when such biases are put into practice, leading to exclusionary or harmful actions against certain groups.
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Bias might exist in thoughts or attitudes, such as believing one gender is superior to another. Discrimination occurs when these biased beliefs translate into actions, like denying jobs based on gender.
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In bias, an individual might have a preconceived notion about a group, affecting how they view or interact with them. Discrimination is the actual implementation of this bias in behaviors or policies that adversely affect the targeted group.
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Bias is often the root cause of discrimination. While bias can exist without overt actions, discrimination is the explicit execution of biased views, leading to unfair treatment or inequality.
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Comparison Chart
Consciousness
Can be unconscious or conscious.
Typically conscious and deliberate.
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Impact
Affects thoughts and attitudes.
Affects people's rights and opportunities.
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Manifestation
Internal; may not be visible.
Visible in actions and decisions.
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Bias and Discrimination Definitions
Bias
A tendency to favor one thing over another, especially unfairly.
She showed a clear bias for her own team during the competition.
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Discrimination
Recognizing a distinction; differentiating.
Her ability for musical discrimination is remarkable.
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Bias
A systematic error introduced into sampling or testing.
The survey had a bias because it only included responses from urban areas.
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Discrimination
Prejudicial treatment based on race, gender, or a differentiating factor.
Racial discrimination in hiring practices is illegal.
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Bias
A preference that prevents impartial judgment.
His bias towards traditional methods overlooked the benefits of innovation.
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Discrimination
The capacity to discern differences between things.
He has a keen discrimination for flavors in food.
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Bias
An angle at which a material is cut, tailored, or organized.
The fabric was cut on the bias to create a more fluid drape.
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Discrimination
The unjust treatment of different categories of people.
The policy resulted in age discrimination against older employees.
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Bias
A line going diagonally across the grain of fabric
Cut the cloth on the bias.
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Discrimination
Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit.
There was clear discrimination in favor of alumni children at the school.
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Bias
A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.
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Discrimination
The ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment.
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Bias
A statistical sampling or testing error caused by systematically favoring some outcomes over others.
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Discrimination
Treatment or consideration based on class or category, such as race or gender, rather than individual merit; partiality or prejudice.
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Bias
A weight or irregularity in a ball that causes it to swerve, as in lawn bowling.
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Discrimination
Discernment, the act of discriminating, discerning, distinguishing, noting or perceiving differences between things, with the intent to understand rightly and make correct decisions.
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Discrimination
Differential treatment of an individual or group to their disadvantage; treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality; prejudice; bigotry.
Sexual or racial discrimination
Reverse discrimination
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Discrimination
(uncountable) The quality of being discriminating; acute discernment, especially in matters of good taste.
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Discrimination
That which discriminates; a distinguishing mark, a characteristic.
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Discrimination
The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.
To make an anxious discrimination between the miracle absolute and providential.
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Discrimination
The state of being discriminated, distinguished, or set apart.
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Discrimination
The arbitrary imposition of unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.
A difference in rates, not based upon any corresponding difference in cost, constitutes a case of discrimination.
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Discrimination
The quality of being discriminating; faculty of nicely distinguishing; acute discernment; as, to show great discrimination in the choice of means.
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Bias
A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (such as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
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Bias
(electronics) A voltage or current applied to an electronic device, such as a transistor electrode, to move its operating point to a desired part of its transfer function.
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Discrimination
Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice
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Bias
(statistics) The difference between the expectation of the sample estimator and the true population value, which reduces the representativeness of the estimator by systematically distorting it.
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Discrimination
The cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished
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Bias
(sports) In the games of crown green bowls and lawn bowls: a weight added to one side of a bowl so that as it rolls, it will follow a curved rather than a straight path; the oblique line followed by such a bowl; the lopsided shape or structure of such a bowl. In lawn bowls, the curved course is caused only by the shape of the bowl. The use of weights is prohibited.
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Bias
(South Korean idol fandom) A person's favourite member of a K-pop band.
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Bias
(transitive) To place bias upon; to influence.
Our prejudices bias our views.
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Bias
In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally.
To cut cloth bias
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Bias
A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line.
Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid, which will . . . swerve away.
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Bias
A leaning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent; inclination.
Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts.
Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to all their actions.
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Bias
A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
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Bias
In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias.
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Bias
To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to influence; to prejudice; to prepossess.
Me it had not biased in the one direction, nor should it have biased any just critic in the counter direction.
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Bias
A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
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Bias
A line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to a side of the fabric
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Bias
Influence in an unfair way;
You are biasing my choice by telling me yours
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Bias
An inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group.
His bias against fast food led him to dismiss its nutritional value.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can bias be positive?
Yes, but even positive biases can lead to unfair advantages or disadvantages.
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How does bias affect decision-making?
It can lead to partial or unfair decisions due to preconceived notions.
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How can bias be overcome?
Through awareness, education, and challenging one’s own preconceptions.
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Are biases always bad?
Not necessarily, but they can lead to unfair treatment or judgments.
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What is an example of discrimination in the workplace?
Not hiring someone solely because of their race or gender.
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Can bias be unconscious?
Yes, people can hold biases without being aware of them.
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Is bias a form of discrimination?
Not directly, but it often leads to discriminatory practices.
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What is bias?
A preconceived notion, either in favor of or against a person, group, or thing.
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Is discrimination always intentional?
Often, but it can also be systemic or institutionalized, occurring without direct intent.
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What is discrimination?
Acting upon biases to treat someone unfairly based on their characteristics.
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What is the impact of discrimination on society?
It leads to inequality, social tension, and injustice.
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How can organizations reduce bias?
Through diversity training and inclusive policies.
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Is discrimination always based on negativity?
Typically, though it can be based on any unjust distinction, not just negative ones.
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How does cultural background influence bias?
Cultural norms and values can shape one's biases.
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Can discrimination be legal?
Sometimes, like in age restrictions for driving, but usually, it's illegal when based on protected characteristics.
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What laws protect against discrimination?
Laws like the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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What are the consequences of discrimination?
Legal repercussions, social backlash, and personal harm to those discriminated against.
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Can bias be measured?
Yes, through tests like the Implicit Association Test (IAT).
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Can anti-discrimination policies eliminate bias?
They can reduce discrimination but may not fully eliminate bias.
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What role does education play in addressing bias and discrimination?
Education can raise awareness and promote understanding to reduce both.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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