Culture Bias

Question 1

Culture Bias

Answer 1

• When differences between cultures have not been properly considered leading to tendency to judge all people in terms of one culture - usually culture researcher belongs to

Question 1

Universiality and Culture Bias

Answer 1

• Psychologists hold beliefs and values that have been influenced by environment.
• Psychologists argue they have discovered objective and scientific facts about human behaviour.
• Undermines claims of universiality - conclusions can be drawn regardless of culture
• Argued that psychology has ignored culture as important influence on human behaviour - research findings conducted on western cultures have been wrongly applied all over the world.
• If the norm for a particular behaviour is judged from a perspective of a certain culture then any cultural differences in behaviour that deviate from this will be seen as abnormal - culture bias

Question 2

Example of Culture Bias

Answer 2

• In both Asch and Milgram studies they used all American participants - studies demonstrate culture bias as when studies are replicated in different cultures - results demonstrated varying degrees of conformity and obedience
• Smith and Bond found that people in collectivist cultures show higher levels of conformity compared with those who live in individualistic cultures.
• In collectivist cultures, people emphasise loyalty to group and being concerned about needs and interests of others. Group decision making is preferred.
• In individualistic cultures people are more concerned with own and family self interests and individual initiatives are valued.

Question 3

Ethnocentrism

Answer 3

• Form of cultural bias
• Belief in superiority of one own cultural group.
• Sometimes seen when any behaviour that do not conform to western way are somehow underdeveloped or unsophisticated
• Can often lead to prejudice and discrimination towards other cultures

Question 4

Example of Ethnocentrism

Answer 4

• Mary Ainsworth strange situation has be criticised for reflecting only the norms and values of American culture
• Suggested that ideal attachment was characterised by a moderate amount of distress when left alone by mum.
• Led to German mother being criticised as being cold and rejecting rather than encouraging a sense of independence
• Study demonstrates ethnocentrism as it was revealed an inappropriate attachment type for non US mothers.

Question 5

Cultural Relativism

Answer 5

• Opposing ethnocentrism
• Acceptance that any behaviour must be viewed against background, values and beliefs of the culture the person is from.
• Recognises that no culture is superior to another only different.
• Acknowledges that although we are all human with common evolutionary ancestry there are probably very few universal behaviours.
• We have adapted to very different climates and environments and developed varied beliefs, religions, customs, norms etc

Question 6

Example of Cultural Relativism

Answer 6

• In western society hearing voices or visual hallucinations is abnormal and would be labelled as symptoms of schizophrenia.
• In other societies hearing voices is seen as a great gift to be welcomed and embraced and seeing visions is applauded and not labelled as abnormal.
• Definition of abnormality demonstrates cultural relativism as it appreciates that an individual should be diagnosed with an appreciation from the culture someone is from.

Question 7

Evaluation of Culture Bias - Emic Etic distinction

Answer 7

• Emic approach to research emphasises the uniqueness of all cultures. One way of eliminating bias that has been caused by taking a universalist or etic view.
• Etic research ignores cultural differences assuming that research carried out anywhere can be generalised to everywhere else as all humans are basically the same. Etic research is more likely to be biased however it may still be conducted if care is taken to use indigenous researchers in each cultural setting.
• Buss, a US researcher studied mate preferances in 36 cultures and found male and female preferences are universal with very few cultural differences. To avoid bias they carefully wrote questions that reflected cultural values and used indigenous researchers.
• Strength - when a researcher is more mindful of cultural relativism of their research, cultural bias can be avoided.
• Academic world has opened up in the last few decades and researchers travel around the world to conferences and meet many other scientists from other cultures. Strength as over time this should reduce ethnocentrism and lead to accurate data on real similarities and differences between and within cultures.

Question 8

Evaluation of Culture Bias - Indigenous psychologists

Answer 8

• Means that cultures should have their own psychology based on their beliefs and values as a means of combating ethnocentrism.
• Afrocentrism is a growing movement recognising that black populations originated in Africa and stating that theories about behaviour must also express African values to avoid bias.
• Strength - conclusions that are drawn are likely to have more validity if they include recognition of the role of culture in bringing them about.

Question 9

However - Indigenous psychologists

Answer 9

• Much research taught and used as a basis for future research is historical and may not have benefitted from these newer, less biased approaches

Question 10

Evaluation of Cultural Bias - Consequences

Answer 10

• Can be directly felt by members of the culture being devalued as inferior.
• In diagnosis of mental illness culture bias has led to misdiagnosis of severe illnesses such as Schizophrenia in African males living in the UK. Narzoo found that black males are three times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and more likely to be hospitalised for mental health problems than white males. Statistics for diagnosis compared to figures in Jamaica show levels for black males to be the same as white males in the UK.
• Weakness - culturally biased diagnostic tests may lead to racial stereotyping and discrimination of particular groups in society.
• May not just be the tests that are biased but the psychiatrists themselves. Majority of psychiatrists are white so do not reflect the diversity of the population.

Question 11

Evaluation of Culture Bias - Individualism and Collectivism

Answer 11

• Critics have suggested that the individualistic - collectivism distinction no longer applies due to the new age of global communication and increased interconnectedness.
• Takano and Osaka found that 14 out of 15 studies that compared the USA and Japan found no evidence of the traditional distinction.
• Weakness - suggests that it is a lazy and simplistic distinction between cultures and that cultural bias in research is less of an issue than it once was.

Question 12

However - Individualism and Collectivism

Answer 12

• Cannot ignore that there are cultural and sub cultural differences between people.
• Needs to be more subtly and complexity when defining and categorising types of cultures.