Page 144 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 23

Book Review The Unbiased Self.

The Psychology of

Overcoming
It's always a good day when I get a new book, and this is one that I’ve been Cogni�ve Bias
wai�ng for. Available TODAY is the latest psychology offering from InterVar-
sity Press. The Unbiased Self is wri�en by Dr. Erin Devers, a social psycholo-
gist who teaches at Indiana Wesleyan University. Professor Devers has a Erin Devers
doctorate from Indiana University, and publishes research primarily in the
psychology of educa�on, using the tools of social psychology to improve stu-
dent learning. In The Unbiased Self, the author’s goal is to present an acces-
sible introduc�on to topics within social psychology rela�ng to the many
ways that we are biased in our thinking, and offering sugges�ons for how we
might become less biased. This book is wri�en from an explicitly Chris�an
perspec�ve, and includes Chris�an-specific applica�ons such as reducing
bias in how we love our neighbor and reducing bias in the church.
How well did Dr. Devers succeed at her goal? Should you immediately click
on one of the links above and get a copy? My review will be presented in
three parts: The Good, The Bad, and The Amiable Professional Disagree-
ments.

The Good
The author does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the idea of
cogni�ve bias (short version: we tend to “spin” our interpreta�on of events,
other people, and ourselves in ways that make the self look good). Social
psychologists have spent decades looking into the many ways in which this
egocentric tendency influences our lives, and Devers cites great academic eBook
sources in support of her claims. One minor thing: these cita�ons are given March 11, 2025
to us in the form of footnotes, rather than endnotes. Thank you! Here’s a �p
everyone, if you’re going to write a book, don’t make me paw through the Erin is a professor of psycho-
end pages to make sure that you relied on actual research rather than some logy at Indiana Wesleyan Uni-
dude’s blog. versity. As a social psycholo-
Since these biases are bound up with the desire to maintain high levels of gist and educator, she has fo-
self-esteem, Devers argues that a more secure self-concept will reduce the cused on crea�ve ways to
nudge students, fellow educa-
desire to falsely bolster the self. This claim is in line with research on secure
versus fragile self-esteem, and I was also put in mind of certain similar tors, and parents toward
good decision-making prac�-
ideas put forward by theologian Kevin Vanhoozer on “status anxiety.” If my ces. Her work has been pu-
sense of self is grounded in the reality that I am a beloved child of God, a
blished in the Journal for Per-
sinner saved by grace, then that is an iden�ty that does not shi� with my sonality and Social Psycho-
daily successes or failures. And the double-truth of this status (Bad: sinner; logy, Chris�an Scholar’s Re-
Good: beloved and saved) should mi�gate both unrealis�cally posi�ve and view, and the Journal for Psy-
unrealis�cally nega�ve self-assessments. chology and Chris�anity,
Several of the prac�cal applica�ons that the author presents are solidly ba- among others.
cked up by relevant theory and research. Employing the “Thinking Fast vs Review by Charles Hackney
Thinking Slow” two-system approach, she advocates for ways in which we
can bring the power of slow thinking to bear on our automa�c reac�ons, (published in the Chris�an
and how we can structure our environments and cul�vate habits in such a Psychology Ins�tute news-
way that our immediate “Thinking Fast” impulses are oriented toward love le�er, h�ps://www.chris�an-
of God and of neighbor. psychins�tute.org/)

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