Gender And Culture

Question 1

What is Androcentrism?

Answer 1

• Androcentrism means being centred on, or dominated by males and can be conscious or unconscious.
• If our understanding of what counts as ‘normal’ behaviour isbeing drawn from research that involves all-male samples, then any
  behaviour that deviates from thisstandard is likely to be judged as ‘abnormal’, ‘inferior’ or‘deficient’ by comparison.
• At best, this leads tofemale behaviour being misunderstood, and at
  worst, pathologised – that is, taken as a sign of psychological instability or disorder.

Question 2

What are 2 ways that psychologists can avoid gender bias in their research?

Answer 2

Use both male and female participants/researchers in research
- Avoid alpha bias = do not exaggerate differences between males and females where there are no real differences

Question 3

Discuss gender bias, and include an example (8 marks) - A01

Answer 3

• Psychologists are like all people who possess beliefs and values that have been influenced by the social andhistorical context within which they live. Bias may be an inevitable aspect of the research
  process.
  They may have:
• failure to consider adequately differences between men and women s
• historically in psychology there has been predominance of research based on samples of men
• researchers might have different expectations of men and women, which might then affect research outcomes

There are 2 types of bias:
alpha bias – overemphasises differences between men and women
beta bias – underestimates differences between men and women

Question 4

Discuss gender bias, and include an example (8 marks) - A03
May result in androcentrism -

Answer 4

• Gender bias might result in androcentrism which is the belief that men’s behaviour represents the norm and therefore that any behaviour typical of women might be judged abnormal.

-Theories such of that of Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning have been based on findings from research which was based upon white middle class males. Because of this, research into moral
development has suggested that women’s morality might be less sophisticated than that of men.

-Gilligan theorised that females focus is on care, whilst males focus is on justice.
-Therefore, there may be potential differences in the moral reasoning of males and females, but it doesn’t mean that one has more worth than the other.
-Likewise, maybe we should examine differences within genders. The
acknowledgement of the presence of gender bias means that we should be cautious and reflexive when criticising and developing theories and consider the impact on the varied groups and
individuals in society.

Question 5

What is cultural relativism?

Answer 5

The theory that morals and values exist in relation to the culture which they originatefrom – there are no absolutes.
-there is a etic and emic approach

Question 6

2 ways researchers might reduce cultural bias in research

Answer 6

• use researchers who are native to/familiar with in the culture being investigated
• carry out cross-cultural research rather than research with a sole culture

Question 7

Explain one problem with the method used to determine the number of miles walked in the week. Suggest an alternative measure that would overcome this problem.

Answer 7

Self reports may lack reliability and validity.
- eg unlikely to get same estimate on more than one occasion; people may forget to record on the day
-use a pedometer

Question 8

Briefly outline one problem associated with alpha bias in psychological research, and one problem associated with beta bias in psychological research.

Answer 8

Alpha Bias - there is a misrepresentation of behaviour researchers / theorists overestimate / exaggerate gender differences

Beta Bias - ere is a misrepresentation of behaviour because researchers / theorists underestimate / minimise gender differences