For several years now, I've been captivated by the intricate connection between bias and shame. Bias, an unconscious or subconscious cognitive function, shapes our thoughts and influences our decision-making processes. On the other hand, shame, is a universal emotion which arises when we cross invisible lines or breach socially acceptable boundaries which are often tied to our deeply held values.

Sigal Barsade, a former management professor at the University of Pennsylvania, astutely observed that biases don't always align with our beliefs. This dissonance can create internal conflicts due to the coexistence of inclusive values with hidden biases. I came face to face with this incongruity in my own life.

Having grown up in a predominantly white Australia, I uncovered a latent racist bias within myself when working on Nauru. Interacting with individuals from vastly different cultures, languages, and faith backgrounds than my own revealed a subconscious sense of superiority and fear. This realisation triggered a profound sense of shame, as this bias contradicted the inclusive values I held dear.

This prompted me to delve deeper into the intersection of bias and shame, where I discovered that our values act as the missing link. Values, whether personal, communal, or cultural, play a crucial role in shaping our beliefs and ideals. They straddle the emotional and cognitive realms, being both cognitive statements and elicitors of strong emotions like pride and passion.

When we feel shame, it often signals a breach of our values. This breach can lead us to examine the biases we may have absorbed, often in childhood, and bring them into the light of awareness. Further, discovering a bias, such as my own racial bias, can evoke shame, urging us to reflect on the values we aim to uphold.

This interplay creates a circular pattern. Shame signals a breached value, which prompts us to identify underlying biases. The shame around recognising these biases then propels us back to our values, encouraging us to strengthen or even form new ones. In my own journey, the shame I felt about my racist bias led me to flip a narrative on its head. I transformed the perception of difference from a threat to an asset, forging a new value that celebrates diversity.



Understanding this intricate relationship between bias, shame, and values empowers us to navigate our internal landscapes with greater self-awareness. It encourages us to question ourselves when we feel shame and explore the values we may have unknowingly breached. By doing so, we pave the way for personal growth, a deepening understanding of who we are and a fostering a more inclusive and compassionate way of being in the world.