4.2 Gender and Culture in Psychology: Cultural Bias

Question 1

Define ‘Cultural Bias’ in Psychology.

Answer 1

A tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena through the eyes of one culture

Question 2

Define ethnocentrism

Answer 2

Judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture.
In an extreme form, this involves the belief that one’s own culture is superior and may lead to prejudice towards other cultures.

Question 3

Define cultural relativism.

Answer 3

Idea that norms, values, ethics and moral standards can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts

Question 4

What is the background info on ‘Cultural Bias’?

Answer 4

• 1992, 64%/56,000 psychology researchers were American - stats suggest psychology is a discipline for straight white American males (cultural bias)

Question 5

Why do critics talk about cultural bias?

Answer 5

• Critics argue mainstream psychology has ignored culture as an influence on human behaviour
- This has resulted in Western findings being applied worldwide

Example:
Conformity and Obedience studies conducted in US had different results in different countries

What is the problem with this?
If the ‘norm’ is judged from one standpoint, any cultural differences in behaviour will automatically be assumed abnormal

Question 6

What have critics said about ethnocentrism in Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation study?

Answer 6

• Only applies to US - German mothers were seen as cold and rejecting rather than encouraging and promoting independence in the child

Question 7

What is an emic approach?

Answer 7

Functions from within certain cultures and identifies behaviours that are specific to that culture

Question 8

What is an etic approach?

Answer 8

Looks at behaviour from outside of a culture and attempts to describe those behaviours that are universal

Question 9

Positively evaluate cultural bias

Answer 9

No longer as big of an issue as it once was.
Osaka (1999) found 14/15 US studies that compared USA with Japan showed no traditional distinction between individualism and collectivism

Question 10

Negatively evaluate the idea behind cultural relativism

Answer 10

Ekman (1989) suggests basic facial expressions are for emotions are the same all over the human and animal world

Question 11

Evaluate ‘Unfamiliarity with research tradition’

Answer 11

Western countries have more experience with psychological research, so demand characteristics may be exaggerated when working with the local population (Bond and Smith 1996)

Question 12

Evaluate the problem of conducting research in other cultures

Answer 12

• Variables may not be experiences the same way by every participant
- Behavioural expression of emotions such as ‘aggression’ may result in different responses in indigenous people than Western people