> If there is a bias, is it good, bad, or neutral? Are there biases in other directions?

Bias isn’t inherently good or bad - they are normative judgements of distance from rationality.

Some biases are probably evolutionary advantageous to the individual but harmful to the society or others.

Sticking with the group is great, except when it isn’t, for example.

Or, a “gut check” is great, but you can’t always make decisions based on your gut:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affect_heuristic

The example described is the textbook definition of bias. Given the exact same text, the participants rate it higher if a male name is attached.