The Third Horse--Gendler

Self-Regulation: The Third Horse - Tamar Szabó Gendler

I. Introduction

Plato's Views on the Human Soul

    • Two distinct views:

      • Socratic Intellectualism: Knowledge commands right action, eliminating contrary inclinations.

      • Multi-Part Soul: Reason dominates but may fail to control other parts, leading to residual inclinations.

  • Argument Against Traditional Views

    • Reflective commitment often fails to guide action.

    • Associative and heuristic processes complicate self-regulation.

    • Traditional strategies for self-regulation are inadequate for managing these challenges.

II. The Two-Horse Carriage (Page 3-4)

  • Knowledge and Action

    • Knowledge should ideally eliminate contrary actions (zero-residue correction).

    • Knowledge should prompt immediate action when appropriate (sufficient-force prompting).

  • Weakness of Will

    • Classic examples illustrate conflicts between reflective attitudes and non-reflective endorsements.

    • Traditional faculty psychology explains these conflicts but overlooks deeper issues.

III. The Third Horse (Page 9-10)

  • Introduction of the Third Horse

    • A metaphor for implicit biases that redirect behavior without conscious awareness.

    • Example: Gender bias in hiring practices among scientists despite their training to be objective.

IV. Chariots of Hire (Page 11-12)

  • Study on Gender Bias

    • Identical résumés sent to faculty with male and female names.

    • Results showed significant bias favoring male candidates in evaluations and hiring decisions.

  • Implications of the Third Horse

    • Implicit biases operate without phenomenology, making them hard to detect.

    • Reflective commitments may not align with implicit evaluations.

V. Mary the Non-Colourblind Non-Scientist (Page 13-14)

  • Character Analysis

    • Example of Mary, who treats colleagues well but is rude to service workers.

    • Suggests a need for self-reflection and alignment of behavior across contexts.

  • Ari's Case

    • Ari holds biased views about gender, reflecting societal norms.

    • His behavior is shaped by implicit biases rather than conscious beliefs.

VI. Aversive Racism (Page 19-20)

  • Definition and Characteristics

    • Aversive racism: Non-prejudiced individuals exhibiting biased behaviors.

    • Implicit associations from a history of discrimination influence behavior.

  • Research Findings

    • Studies show that implicit biases affect decision-making and behavior, even among those who consciously reject racism.

VII. Micro-Behaviors (Page 22-23)

  • Impact of Micro-Behaviors

    • Subtle nonverbal cues influenced by implicit biases can affect interpersonal interactions.

    • Example: A White individual may exhibit less friendliness towards a Black individual without realizing it.

VIII. Implementation Intentions (Page 26-27)

  • Strategies for Managing Implicit Bias

    • Implementation intentions: If-then plans that help redirect behavior.

    • Research shows that focusing on accuracy rather than race can reduce bias in decision-making.

IX. Conclusion (Page 28-29)

  • The Need for Awareness and Strategies

    • Recognizing the influence of the third horse is crucial for self-regulation.

    • Effective strategies must address implicit biases to align behavior with reflective commitments.

References (Page 210-218)

  • A comprehensive list of studies and literature that support the arguments presented in the paper, including works on implicit bias, dual-process theories, and self

When considering our control over biases, it is crucial to recognize that implicit biases can operate outside of our conscious awareness, thus complicating the issue of moral responsibility. The concept of the 'third horse,' as discussed in Tamar Szabó Gendler's work, highlights how these implicit biases can redirect behavior without our conscious intent.

Although individuals may not consciously endorse these biases, they can still manifest in actions that may be morally questionable. This raises important questions about the extent to which we can be held accountable for behaviors influenced by such biases.

Control matters in moral responsibility; however, the complexity of implicit biases and the fact that they may operate without phenomenology suggests that moral criticism is nuanced. Awareness of these biases and implementing strategies, such as 'if-then' implementation intentions, can be essential in aligning our behavior with our reflective commitments, thereby addressing moral responsibility.