What is a possible outcome when individuals hold implicit biases?

When individuals hold implicit biases, a likely outcome is that they may unknowingly behave in a prejudiced manner. Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an involuntary way. Because people are often unaware of these biases, they can influence behavior without the individual realizing it, leading to actions that may be considered discriminatory or prejudiced.

This outcome highlights the subtle nature of implicit biases; they can manifest in ways that the individual does not intend or recognize. For instance, someone might have positive attitudes towards certain groups while harboring negative biases towards others, which can subtly influence their interactions, hiring decisions, or judgments about others without conscious intent.

In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios that either require a level of awareness that typically doesn't accompany implicit biases, or imply that biases can be completely eradicated through self-awareness, which is not realistic given the pervasive nature of implicit attitudes. Acknowledging the existence of implicit biases is a critical first step in addressing and minimizing their impact, but complete elimination is generally not feasible.