Cultural Bias Flashcards
What is cultural bias
To give an advantage to one culture over another. To ignore the difference between cultures and to impose understanding based on the study of one culture to other cultures. To think one culture has precedent over another
What type of individuals do we see standard behaviour from?
WEIRD
What does WEIRD stand for
Westernised, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democracies
How is universality linked with cultural bias
Researchers have wrongly assumed that findings in Western Cultures can be applied all over the world
Hat is an example of cultural assumption in relation to universality
Studies of conformity
What is ethnocentrism
Belief that the ethnic group with which the individual (researcher ) identifies with, is superior to other group
Why is ethnocentrism bad for psychological research
The individual uses their own ethnic group to evaluate and make judgments about other individuals from other ethnic groups which could lead to false information and underrepresentation
How are behaviours which don’t really conform to western models seen as?
Unsophisticated or underdeveloped
What is an example of ethnocentrism in psychology
Ainsworth strange situation
How does Ainsworth strange situation show ethnocentrism
.Reflects only the norms and values of American (Western) Culture in attachment research.
.Led to misinterpretation of child-rearing practices in other countries.
What can help avoid cultural bias
Cultural relativism
What is cultural relativism
The idea that a behaviour can only be properly understood/only has meaning/only makes sense in the context of the norms and values of the society or culture in which it occurs
What are the characteristics of cultural relativism
Inclusive , one minded and culturally sensitive
What are the 2 types of approaches to research that leads to cultural bias
Etic and emic
What is etic construct
research from a specific culture which is applied to other cultures to find universal laws
What is the issue with etic construct
Dissimulation to generalised and there could be researcher bias
What is emic construct
research based on a specific culture. It studies variations between groups.
Which construct avoids imposed etic
Emic
What is the issue with emic construct
can lead to exaggerating differences between cultural groups. Assumes that the meaning of behaviour can only be defined from within the culture studied (cultural specific)
What is imposed etic
cultural bias can occur if a researcher assumes that an emic construct is actually etic. This results in an
imposed etic, where a culture-specific idea is wrongly imposed on another culture
What is a limitation on cultural bias in relation to classical studies
Most influential studies in psych are culturally biased such as Aschs and Milgrams studies. This shows a lack of representation and generalisability which shows that it cannot be applied universally. When replicated in different cultures, different results were shown therefore showing that social influence studies should only be applied to individulistic cultures
What is the counter point of the limitation of the fact that most classic studies are culturally biased
Due to increase in media globalisation, it is argued that individualistic-collectivist distinction doesn’t exist anymore. Psychologists found that 14/15 studies comparing the US and Japan found no evidence of distinction describing the distinction as lazy and simple
What is a strength of cultural bias in relation to cultural psychology
Cultural psychology is good to understand ho people scrape and are shaped by their cultural experience. They try to avoid ethnocentric assumptions by taking an emic approach and conducting research within a culture. This shows that moderne researchers are becoming more aware and wanting to avoid cultural bias
What is a limitation of cultural bias in relation to communication and language
When foreign researchers go to different cultures and countries to do their research, there many be a language barrier and also prejudice. If the researcher doesn’t understand the language, it will be extremely difficult to do their research. If there is a translator, they could easily lie and make stuff up to fit the investigation for what they many want to see. There will be a lack of accuracy and reliability. The investigator may also have stereotypes and prejudiced ideologies which can be impactful
