cultural bias Flashcards
AO1: ethnocentrism and cultural relativism with examples
Ethnocentrism is a particular form of cultural bias, a belief in the superiority of one’s own cultural group. Can be applied to the US and Europe. Eg Ainsworth’s Strange Situation reflects the norms and values of Western culture, attachment depends on the culture. Viewing it in one way is an ethnocentric view of attachment. This is an example of imposed etic, looking at a culture from the outside and trying to apply universal behaviours.
Cultural relativism - The opposite of ethnocentrism - the idea that all cultures are different and equally worthy of respect and we should try to understand the way a culture sees the world. This is an emic approach, looks from the inside of a culture and tries to identify behaviours that are relative to that culture. CR can lead to alpha bias where the assumption of real differences can overlook universality (Berry)
AO1: Alpha and beta bias with examples
Alpha bias - psychological research that exaggerates cultural differences, there are real and enduring differences between cultural groups. Eg. individualistic and collectivist cultures.
Beta bias - theories that ignore or minimise cultural differences, they assume all people are the same and that we can apply the same principles to understand behaviour regardless of culture. Eg. IQ testing assumes measures of IQ are universal - Brislin found that the Bagandan people of Uganda view taking your time as a measure of intelligence, in opposition to the timed IQ tests from the West. This demonstrates an imposed etic, studying behaviour from one culture and then applying the same principles.
AO3: one issue is that many influential studies are culturally biased
However, media and globalisation
P: one issue is that many influential studies in psychology are culturally biased.
E: for example Asch and MIlgram’s conformity studies. They were both done on all white American men.
E: when the studies were replicated in other countries the results were very different. In collectivist cultures there was higher levels of conformity than in America, an individualistic culture.
L: this shows that studies like should only be applied to individualistic cultures not collectivist cultures.
HOWEVER, as media and globalisation has increased, it is argued that individualist-collectivist distinction no longer applies.
E/E: Research found that 14 out of 15 of the studies comparing the US and Japan found no evidence of individualism or collectivism.
L: This suggests that cultural bias in research may be less of an issue in more recent psychological research.
AO3: A consequence of culturally bias research is the danger of reinforcing ethnic stereotypes
However more recently there has been the emergence of cultural psychology which takes a more emic approach
P: A consequence of culturally bias research is the danger of reinforcing ethnic stereotypes
E/E: Gould argued that the IQ testing carried out in the US after WWI was used to discriminate against immigrant and African American soldiers as the questions were ethnocentric.
L: This matters because it shows how cultural bias can be used to justify prejudice and discrimination of some ethic groups. These damaging stereotypes have endured.
HOWEVER, more recently there has been the emergence of cultural psychology which takes a more emic approach.
E/E: This takes into account sociology, anthropology and politics and aims to avoid ethnocentric assumptions, they will take an emic approach and work with researchers from that specific culture.
L: This suggests modern psychologists are mindful of cultural bias and are taking steps to avoid it.
AO3: a way to counter ethnocentrism is to encourage indigenous psychology
P: A way to counter ethnocentrism is to encourage indigenous psychology
E: This is an example of an emic approach, one which emphasises the uniqueness of every culture by focussing on culturally specific phenomena.
E: For example Afrocentrisim is a movement that proposes all Black people have their roots in African and that any psychological theories around behaviour must be African centred and express African values. It argues that the values and cultures of Europeans devalue non Europeans.
L:
This matters because it has led to the development of theories relevant to the life and culture of people of African descent.
AO3: A strength of conducting more cross cultural research is the dominant individualistic ways of seeing the world are challenged.
P: A strength of conducting more cross cultural research is the dominant individualistic ways of seeing the world are challenged.
E/E: This helps us to see that the dominant ways we view behaviour are not hardwired and will provide a better understanding of human nature.
