Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Dignified, good-looking, deep-voiced, and affable, Warren Harding resembled a Roman Senator. Though not known for intelligence, Harding was a much-admired Ohio senator who radiated presidential dignity and common sense; Harding was elected president in 1920 and “[h]e was, most historians agree, one of the worst presidents in American history" (129).

Harding appealed to stereotypes of what a good leader looks like, which encourages voters to reach quick conclusions based on biases. This type of error lies behind much prejudging and social discrimination.

Implicit-association tests measure the effects of bias. One such exam asks test takers to place a series of words and pictures into one of two categories, “European American or Bad” and “African American or Good" (141). The items are Hurt, Evil, Glorious, a picture of a black man, a picture of a white man, and Wonderful. The test is repeated, except the categories are reversed: “European American or Good” and “African American or Bad" (141). Most people, black or white, are much faster at sorting the second test, where “European American” is associated with “Good.”

It turns out that “more than 80 percent of all those who have ever taken the test end up having pro-white associations, meaning that it takes them measurably longer to complete answers when they are required to put good words into the ‘Black’ category" (142-43).