About Jennifer Eberhardt

Unconscious and Implicit Racial Bias

Jennifer Eberhardt's research reveals how unconscious racial biases shape perceptions and actions, often without awareness. In 'Biased,' she explains that these biases act as a 'distorting lens,' influencing what people see, think, and do.[4][5][9] She emphasizes that everyone harbors such biases, rooted in brain processes that associate Black faces with threat or crime, leading to skewed judgments.[1][7]

Bias in Criminal Justice and Policing

Eberhardt's work extensively examines bias in policing and sentencing. She uses AI to analyze police behavior for bias patterns,[12] and her studies show how racial stereotypes exacerbate disparities in the justice system. Her expertise positions her as a key voice on reforming these institutions.[3]

Overcoming Bias: Strategies and Interventions

Eberhardt advocates practical methods to combat bias, such as slowing down thinking to replace intuition with deliberate intelligence.[1][7] She promotes 'good friction'—intentional disruptions in habitual processes—to humanize interactions and reduce prejudice.[10] Implicit bias training and awareness are central to her approach.[1]

AI, Technology, and Bias

Extending her research to modern tech, Eberhardt analyzes how AI perpetuates or reveals human biases, particularly in police body-cam footage and predictive tools.[12] This intersects with her broader critique of how biases embed in systems.

Bridging Divides and Fostering Belonging

In discussions on belonging, Eberhardt explores bias roots to offer strategies for bridging racial divides.[8] Her talks emphasize actionable steps toward equity and humanized classrooms.[10]

Recognition and Broader Impact

A 2014 MacArthur Fellow, Eberhardt co-directs SPARQ at Stanford and received a 2026 APS Lifetime Achievement Award.[5][11] Her book 'Biased' has fueled book clubs, podcasts, and policy talks.[6][7][9]