Essay

Question 1

Beta bias

Answer 1

Refers to theories which ignore or minimise sex differences between males and females, these theories often assume that findings from males can apply to females

Question 2

Alpha Bias

Answer 2

Refers to theories which exaggerate the differences between males and females, reinforcing stereotypes

Question 3

Gender Bias

Answer 3

A certain preference or prejudice toward one gender over the other. This bias can be conscious/unconscious and consists of two key aspects alpha and beta

Question 4

Androcentrism

Answer 4

Male behaviour is normal, anything different is abnormal

Question 5

Freud (psychosexual development)

Answer 5

1933, time of androcentrism. He was demeaning to women.
His theory reinforced stereotypes, displaying his androcentrism as he stated that ‘anatomy is destiny, femininity is a failed form of masculinity’ (suggesting morally inferior)

• ‘women oppose change, receive passively and add nothing of their own’

Question 6

Kohlberg

Answer 6

(1973)- stage of moral development theory- linked moral understanding to cognitive development.
Preconventional- ‘’ and post ‘’

Used an all male sample of 10-16 boys
Applied all findings to women and said they had lower moral development

Question 7

Gender bias

Answer 7

Institutional but primarily Methodical- same male sample bias and standardised responses

Eg Asch (1950s)conformity, milgram (1960s) obedience and Zumba Reo (1970s) SPE

Andocentric. Accepted they are the norm

Question 8

Ways to minimise gender bias

Answer 8

• educate. A greater understanding of gender bias= psychologist work harder to minimise it. they develop theories that emphasise the importance and value of women and challenge theories and acknowledge female differences
• Gillian, horney
• change methodology- psych of women for women

Question 9

What did Gillian do

Answer 9

(1982)- contradicted kohlberg in her theory of female morality, suggesting females moral reasoning differed but wasn’t deficient. Male morality based on principles like law and justice- women compassion and care (which her theory looked at). Brought attention the fact that diff analysis was required

Question 10

-ve of gillians work

Answer 10

Minimised attention for differences- eg parental leave

Question 11

What did horney do

Answer 11

(1942)- contradicted Freud in womb envy theory. Proposed that Freud was demeaning to women and that men have womb envy and feel inferior as they can’t give birth.

Question 12

-ve horney

Answer 12

Seperates men and women + stereotypes

Question 13

How can we overcome gender bias

Answer 13

Change samples and focus on women

Question 14

Why is gender bias an issue

Answer 14

It can lead to an androcentric view of human behaviour. Therefore anything different is seen as deviant, abnormal

Can lead to political sexism and reinforce stereotypes

Question 15

Stats

Answer 15

In 1975 70% of psychology field were male

In 2008 30% were male

Question 16

Wilson

Answer 16

(1975)- an example of alpha bias, Wilson’s social biological theory of relationship formation and exaggerated principles of survival.

Suggested men need to spread their seed- their nature

Question 17

Why is psych important in society

Answer 17

It’s interpreted to understand human behaviour and decision making. This information is then translated and implimented in society to form policies and ensure the best for everyone

Question 18

Animal research beta bias

Answer 18

Fight/flight response, animal mails for used as they have less variation in hormones than females. Assumption was made that the response to be standardised to both male and female.

Question 19

Taylor et al

Answer 19

2000
carried out further stress research, finding evidence that females tend and befriend, therefore challenging these ideas and a period where differences were ignored

Question 20

Biomedical theories of abnormalities

Answer 20

Freuds influence can be observed in society, often, depression and woman is explained by hormonal/neurochemical factors rather than social/environmental factors

Question 21

Constance Holsen (1976)

Answer 21

Supported Gilligan, found female scored three on Kohlberg stages (emphasis on interpersonal relationships and issues of social duty) where is males scored at four (law, social constructs) , showed unfairly, biased, and in favour of the moral reasoning of males