cultural bias Flashcards
what are the 4 paragraphs
cross cultural studies
difference or bias
ethnocentrism
historical and social context
cross cultural studies
O
psychologists conduct cross-cultural studies to establish if cultural practices affect behaviour. cross cultural studies are often used to determine whether a behaviour is universal or whether it varies between cultures
evidence to use in cross cultural studies paragraph
Kohlberg developed a stage model of moral development using a series of dilemmas. his research was conducted cross-culturally (GB, Canada, Taiwan, Mexico and Turkey) as well as the original US sample
found that children in Mexico and Taiwan were the same as the children in the US in terms of their sense of morality (Except the development was slower)
strength of conducting cross-cultural studies
it can help to reduce ethnocentrism in research, due to varied samples of pps we have increased population validity and increased the ability to generalise the research findings if a similarity is found across cultures.
weakness of cross cultural studies
the cross-cultural studies research may use tests or procedures that have been developed in the US and are not valid in other cultures, the use of psychological tests or techniques developed in one culture that are then used to test another is called an imposed etic. e,g it is hard to imagine that Kohlberg’s dilemmas made equal sense in each culture included in his research hence this is an example of an imposed etic and culturally biased research
what needs to be ensured when carrying out cross-cultural studies
need to ensure bias is reduced and to be careful to avoid imposed etics within research in order to validate any findings
E- difference or bias
Grossman and Grossman found that german infants tended to be classified as insecurely attached rather than securely attached when using Ainsworths strange situation classification system
S- difference or bias
this study would seem to suggest that German children have weaker emotional bonds and relationship with their primary caregivers than American children do. this would be a potential for positive practical application in developing the quality of attachments between German children and their parents to increase security
showing that cross-cultural studies are important
weakness or difference or bias
(what is possible about the findings of Grossman and Grossman’s research
it is possible that the findings are due to the different child rearing practices advocated in Germany. German culture involves keeping some interpersonal distance between parents and children, so infants rarely engage in clingy behaviours in the strange situation and so seem insecurely attached when measured against American expectations of behaviour. whereas, when judged against German standards a child would be classified as securely attached
ethnocentrism
O
ethnocentrism refers to the use of our own cultural or ethnic group as a basis for judgements about other groups. the views beliefs and cultures of our own group are ‘normal’ or superior and those of other groups are strange. eurocentrism is a form of ethnocentrism
E - ethnocentrism
Hare-mustin and MAracek suggest there are two ways that theories can be biased. alpha bias refers to the assumption that there are real differences between cultural groups. beta bias refers to theories that ignore or minimise cultural differences. ethnocentrism may lead to a beta bias if tests are assumed to have the same meaning in all cultures
in terms of ethnocentrism this is the belief that one’s own culture is different and better, others cultures are devalued
S- ethnocentrism
research into the Aka Pigmy tribe is an example of alpha bias. the male members of the tribe are the ‘primary caregivers’ and breastfeed the babies. this is the opposite of western cultures. could lead to the tribe being seen as ‘different and their values and experiences de-valued when compared. alpha bias could be argued to occur when the differences between individualist and collectivist cultures are exaggerated
W- ethnocentrism
how to counter it
by being culturally relative
e.g. when looking at different cultures,we can be more culturally relative by replicating studies which were originally conducted in one (usually American) cultures. when repeating Milgrams study on obedience, Miranda et al. found over 90% of her sample went to 450 volts (sample of spanish students)
historical and social context
(western ideas/cultures)
E
Rozenweig
found that 64% of the worlds 56,000 researchers in psychology are American
S historical and social context
(western ideas.)
it is widely known that psychology largerly draws its conclusions from studies of WEIRD samples. (western, european, industrialised, rich, democratic) who represent just 12% of the world population (Hennrich)
W- historical and social context
western ideas
a way this can be countered is by developing branches of indigenous psychology. IP is defined by Kim and Berry as ‘the scientific study of human behaviour or mind that is native, that is not transported from other regions and that is designed for its people’ many places around the world have discussed how traditional methods only reflect what would work in Europe and the Americas
historical and social context
historically-research is biased
E
traditionally psychology has been almost exclusively a western subject. although more non-western nations start to conduct their own research, overwhelming history of psychology has been white, western and middleclass. cultures also change over time. we could therefore argue that different time periods are essentially different cultures
‘the past is a foreign country’
historical and social context
historically-research is biased
S
Bowlby’s study of the effects of separation was conducted more than 60 years ago and at a time where childcare arrangements and attachments are very different from those experienced today. findings may not generalise to todays culture because the way we look at children has changed. we now spend much more time investing in the emotional well-being of children
historical and social context
historically-research is biased
weakness
however bowlby’s research in the 1950s has been supported by more recent and up-to-date research. e.g. rutter assessed children reared in profoundly depriving institutions in Romania and subsequently adopted into UK families. adoptees were compared at 11 with children who had not been adopted within the UK before 6 months and not experienced institutional deprivation. parental reports, a modified strange situation and investigator ratings of the children’s behaviour was all assessed. results revealed that disinhibited attachments were strongly associated with institutional rearing
what to include in a conclusion of cultural bias
-one way to improve this is to encourage IP (bias should be reduced)
-be more ‘culturally relative’ study all cultures from the ‘ground up’ rather than looking at them with our own subjective and biased views
