2. cultural bias Flashcards
cultural bias
researchers have a distorted view of other cultures as their own cultural understandings affect theories and research
ethnocentrism
using your own culture as a basis of judgement for other cultures
own customs and behaviour seen as ‘normal’ and superior
e.g individualistic/ western view of attachment= independence is valued vs collectivistic= dependence is valued
cultural relativism
all cultures seen as worthy of respect and studies need to understand cultural views
using an emic approach instead of an etic one
etic approach
behaviour is assumed universal and studies cultures from the outside
BAD
emic approach
identifies and measures behaviour in a way specific to a culture
e.g immersing yourself in that culture
GOOD
cultural bias
EVALUATION
LIMMITATION
implications of cultural bias
if western views dominate impacts how mental health is diagnosed
e.g DSM based on western findings used to diagnose, defies schizophrenia symptoms that are common in other cultures
may diagnose someone as mentally ill but definition is only relative to own culture
people will receive treatment who don’t need it
cultural bias
EVALUATION
STRENGTH
emic approach
overcome issues with ethnography where researcher become part of the community to understand a culture
more valid interpretations
can demonstrate if trait is universal
cultural bias
EVALUATION
LIMITATION
operationalised of variables
without clear understanding of culture we may measure behaviour that is not perceived the same way in another culture
e.g studies use different samples in other cultures, like strange situation
takahashi= infants are more distressed because of cultural differences not attachment type
found cultural differences might actually be due to cultural bias so aren’t valid
cultural bias
EVALUATION
LIMITATION
individualism and collectivism
not always helpful to distinguish cultural differences as there’s differences also within cultures
travel is more common and the world is more connected
cultural bias is less of an issue than thought
we should look at cultures individually instead of making distinctions