cultural bias Flashcards
cultural bias
the tendency of psychologists to ignore cultural differences and interpret all behaviour in terms of their own cultural assumptions,
favours one culture over another
alpha bias
theories that assume real differences between cultural groups
beta bias
theories that ignore or minimise cultural differences
cultural bias synoptic evidence
social influence
Asch
american study
testing conformity with an unambiguous task
Concluded they need to be liked (normative social influence),
can lead people to conform (around 32% conformed at least once).
Conformity levels USA = 65%, Japan = 51% = different
ethnocentrisism
assume our culture is superior and correct.
What is right/wrong is based on our culture.
ethnocentricism synoptic
attachment
Ainsworth’s strange situation
Used cultural norms and values of child rearing in America
suggested that the ideal attachment type (secure) was characterised by the infant showing moderate separation anxiety
= misinterpretation of child rearing practices that deviated from the American norm
e.g Germany mothers were seen as cold and rejecting due to a high proportion of insecure avoidant children
strange situation may not be an appropriate measure of attachment types for non-US cultures.
support for ethnocentirc synoptic
Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg
looked at the cultural variations in attachment using the strange situation
found in Germany babies showed the highest percentage of insecure-avoidant
doesn’t mean German mothers do not care for their children.
means they value making them independent
cultural relativism
the idea that values, behaviors, and concepts should be understood within their own cultural context
how to reduce cultural bias
for psychologists to be mindful of the cultural relativism of this research/theory, and aware not to just generalise to avoid bias
There is no global right/wrong. Human behaviour can only be meaningfully understood within the specific social and cultural context it occurs in
etic approach
looks at behaviour from outisde a culture and identifies behaviours that are universal
emic approach
functions form inside a culture and identifies behaviours thata re specific to that culture
imposed etic and cultural relativism synoptic
gender
mead
cross-cultural study on gender roles - Tribal groups in New Guinea
study suggested that there may not be a direct biological relationship between gender and sex - gender roles may be culturally determined.
underestimated the universal nature of gender typical behaviours
Western research here was assumed to be universal. Impose western ideals on an indigenous tribe
imposed etic
imposing one’s own cultural understanding on the rest of the world
Ao3 - limitation - individualism and collectivism
In the past, when referencing culture, it was done within the context of individual or collective
individualist culture = western countries, value personal freedom and independence
collectivist = interdependence, needs of the group
since global communication and interconnectedness are so simplistic, a distinction is not applicable
14/15 studies that compared USA and Japan found no evidnece for traditional distinction
= cultural bias is less of an issue
ao3 - limitation - universality
it shouldn’t be assumed that all of psychology is culturally relative and that there’s no such thing as universal behaviour
basic facial expressions are the same all over the world
Harris - babies prefer slated cereal v unsalted. shown by facial expressions
a full understanding of human behaviour requires the study of universals and variations
ao3 - strength - cross-cultural reserach challenged assumptions
It challenges our typically western ways of thinking
being able to see that some of the knowledge we take for granted are not shared by others around the world may promote greater sensitivity to individual difference
means the conclusions drawn are more valid
