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Healing Bias: Your Guide to Individual, Interpersonal, and Institutional Change
Bias develops systematically—we must dismantle it systematically, too.
Human bias developed from a survival instinct which flagged difference and change as a potential threat to resources. Yet even when resources are no longer in question, previous fears and biases remain—and with globalization, the communication of these biases is perpetuated. In short, bias is not a question of one’s character, but a socially transmitted disease. The Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training approach is a systematic approach to reducing this transmission.
This book offers a blueprint for addressing bias in all facets of life, emphasizing its impact on personal growth and community health. It provides a clear, structured method for recognizing and combating bias, combining clinical insight with practical strategies for everyday application. With real-life examples and actionable advice, Healing Bias translates complex ideas into relatable, empowering solutions. Written from a clinical psychology perspective, it balances academic depth with real-world relevance, making it an essential guide for anyone looking to build deeper, more inclusive connections.
Human bias developed from a survival instinct which flagged difference and change as a potential threat to resources. Yet even when resources are no longer in question, previous fears and biases remain—and with globalization, the communication of these biases is perpetuated. In short, bias is not a question of one’s character, but a socially transmitted disease. The Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training approach is a systematic approach to reducing this transmission.
This book offers a blueprint for addressing bias in all facets of life, emphasizing its impact on personal growth and community health. It provides a clear, structured method for recognizing and combating bias, combining clinical insight with practical strategies for everyday application. With real-life examples and actionable advice, Healing Bias translates complex ideas into relatable, empowering solutions. Written from a clinical psychology perspective, it balances academic depth with real-world relevance, making it an essential guide for anyone looking to build deeper, more inclusive connections.
432 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2025
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June 27, 2025
Book Review: Healing Bias: Your Guide to Individual, Interpersonal, and Institutional Change by Dana E. Crawford, PhD
Dana E. Crawford’s Healing Bias is a groundbreaking and compassionate framework for confronting one of society’s most pervasive challenges: systemic and internalized bias. As a woman and academic, I found Crawford’s approach—which reframes bias as a socially constructed coping mechanism rather than a moral failing—to be both revolutionary and deeply humane. Her Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training (CBRT) model offers a structured yet flexible pathway for individuals and institutions to engage in meaningful change, blending cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles with interpersonal dynamics in a way that feels both scholarly and accessible.
What struck me most was Crawford’s emphasis on self-compassion as a cornerstone of bias reduction. Too often, discussions about bias devolve into performative guilt or defensiveness, but Crawford’s three-phase model (awareness, investigation, and reduction) creates space for growth without shame. The reflection prompts and real-world scenarios resonated with me personally, particularly the exercises designed to uncover implicit biases in everyday interactions. As someone who has navigated institutional spaces where bias often operates invisibly, I appreciated Crawford’s insistence that systemic change begins with individual accountability—but never ends there.
However, the book’s strength—its focus on actionable steps—sometimes comes at the expense of deeper structural analysis. While Crawford provides excellent tools for interpersonal and organizational bias reduction, I wished for a more intersectional exploration of how race, gender, class, and disability intersect in systemic oppression. For example, how might CBRT apply differently to a Black woman in corporate leadership versus a white woman in academia? Additionally, though the R.A.C.E. card deck is a valuable companion, its integration into the main text could have been more seamless for readers without access to supplementary materials.
Strengths:
-Empowering Framework: CBRT’s phased approach makes bias reduction feel achievable rather than overwhelming.
-Practical Tools: Role-play exercises and reflection prompts translate theory into daily practice.
-Trauma-Informed Lens: Crawford’s background in psychology shines through in her nuanced understanding of bias as a survival mechanism.
Critiques:
-Intersectional Gaps: A deeper dive into overlapping identities would strengthen the model’s applicability.
-Institutional Depth: While the book excels at individual/interpersonal levels, systemic strategies could be expanded.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A vital, user-friendly guide that demystifies bias reduction, though its structural analysis occasionally lags behind its psychological insights.
Thank you to W. W. Norton and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Final Thought: Crawford’s work is a beacon for anyone ready to move beyond performative allyship into tangible transformation. By centering empathy and accountability, Healing Bias doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it equips us with the tools to rebuild.
Dana E. Crawford’s Healing Bias is a groundbreaking and compassionate framework for confronting one of society’s most pervasive challenges: systemic and internalized bias. As a woman and academic, I found Crawford’s approach—which reframes bias as a socially constructed coping mechanism rather than a moral failing—to be both revolutionary and deeply humane. Her Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training (CBRT) model offers a structured yet flexible pathway for individuals and institutions to engage in meaningful change, blending cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) principles with interpersonal dynamics in a way that feels both scholarly and accessible.
What struck me most was Crawford’s emphasis on self-compassion as a cornerstone of bias reduction. Too often, discussions about bias devolve into performative guilt or defensiveness, but Crawford’s three-phase model (awareness, investigation, and reduction) creates space for growth without shame. The reflection prompts and real-world scenarios resonated with me personally, particularly the exercises designed to uncover implicit biases in everyday interactions. As someone who has navigated institutional spaces where bias often operates invisibly, I appreciated Crawford’s insistence that systemic change begins with individual accountability—but never ends there.
However, the book’s strength—its focus on actionable steps—sometimes comes at the expense of deeper structural analysis. While Crawford provides excellent tools for interpersonal and organizational bias reduction, I wished for a more intersectional exploration of how race, gender, class, and disability intersect in systemic oppression. For example, how might CBRT apply differently to a Black woman in corporate leadership versus a white woman in academia? Additionally, though the R.A.C.E. card deck is a valuable companion, its integration into the main text could have been more seamless for readers without access to supplementary materials.
Strengths:
-Empowering Framework: CBRT’s phased approach makes bias reduction feel achievable rather than overwhelming.
-Practical Tools: Role-play exercises and reflection prompts translate theory into daily practice.
-Trauma-Informed Lens: Crawford’s background in psychology shines through in her nuanced understanding of bias as a survival mechanism.
Critiques:
-Intersectional Gaps: A deeper dive into overlapping identities would strengthen the model’s applicability.
-Institutional Depth: While the book excels at individual/interpersonal levels, systemic strategies could be expanded.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – A vital, user-friendly guide that demystifies bias reduction, though its structural analysis occasionally lags behind its psychological insights.
Thank you to W. W. Norton and Edelweiss for providing a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Final Thought: Crawford’s work is a beacon for anyone ready to move beyond performative allyship into tangible transformation. By centering empathy and accountability, Healing Bias doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it equips us with the tools to rebuild.
Displaying 1 of 1 review