Bias and Culture in OT

Many people have biases, or tendencies to classify groups into categories based on preconceived notions, whether they know they have them or not. When people are aware of their biases, they are called explicit biases and the person is aware of it; however, when a person is unaware they hold a bias, they are called implicit biases and exist in their head outside of their awareness. What stood out the most to me when learning about this topic is that we should not try to suppress our biases and pretend that they do not exist. By doing this, we do not only hurt ourselves but also others. It is important to become aware of biases that we might hold in order to acknowledge their existence. By doing this, we are not trying to get rid of any implicit biases that we hold because they are often subconscious, but bringing awareness can help prevent a person from acting on them. By knowing what thoughts or assumptions you might hold towards a certain person or group of people, one can be aware that these ideas might try to be applied when working with clients. It is then important for the practitioner to recognize this and really listen to the client and their needs without imposing stereotypes upon them.

Culture is also important to consider when treating clients. Culture relates to the set of ideas, attitudes, and beliefs that a group holds, all of which can relate to a person's occupations. As a practitioner, understanding how an individuals culture works and the roles that they play within that culture can assist in developing an intervention plan that is both client- and occupation-centered. In order to be culturally responsive, an individual must be aware and willing to learn about a culture and embrace and apply the culture that they are learning about. Being culturally aware not only allows practitioners to understand a individual's occupations, but it can also help them to interact with the client and other individuals themselves. Different cultures have different levels of interaction between sexes, different levels of respect among ranks, and even different ways of interpreting non-verbal cues. All of this is knowledge that would be necessary for treating clients in the most effective and respectful manner.