Gender Bias Flashcards
How is bias an inevitable aspect of the research process?
Psychologists are people and therefore possess beliefs and values, so it is impossible to have fully bias-free research.
What is universality?
Conclusions can be applied to everyone, everywhere, regardless of time or culture.
What is Alpha Bias?
Psychological research that exaggerates or overestimates the differences between the sexes - usually presented as fixed and inevitable. These usually devalue females in relation to their male counterparts.
What is Wilson’s sociobiological theory of sex?
He explains human sexual attraction through the principle of ‘survival efficiency’. It is in the males interest to try to impregnate as many women as possible to increase the chance of his genes being passed on. It is in the females interest to ensure the healthy survival of relatively few offspring to preserve her genes.
What is the main premise of Wilson’s sociobiological theory of sex?
That sexual promiscuity in males is genetically determined whilst females who engage in the same behaviour are regarded as going against their nature. This is alpha bias.
What is beta bias?
Ignoring, minimising or underestimating the differences between men and women. This occurs when females are not included in the research process and it is assumed that the findings apply equally to both sexes.
How is the fight-or-flight response an example of beta bias?
Early research was based on male animals, and was assumed to be a universal response to a threatening situation. Recently, Taylor suggested that female biology has evolved to inhibit the fight or flight response, shifting attention towards caring for offspring and forming defensive networks with other females.
What is androcentrism?
Our understanding that male behaviour is the norm, since that is the result of studies, and any other behaviour, e.g. female behaviour, is unusual, abnormal or inferior.
How is PMS an example of androcentrism?
Feminists have argued that it trivialises female experiences, that PMS is a social construction which medicalises female emotions, especially anger, into hormonal terms. Male anger, on the other hand, is often seen as a rational response to external pressures.
What is the evaluation - implications of gender bias?
It may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes and validate discriminatory practices. If males are seen as the standard of normalcy, it becomes normal for women to feel abnormal. This is not just a methodological problem but has damaging consequences for women’s lives.
What is the evaluation - sexism in the research process?
A lack of women at senior research level means female concerns may not be reflected in research questions. Studies that find differences between genders are more likely to be published than those that do not. The laboratory experiment may also disadvantage women - female participants are placed in an inequitable relationship with a male researcher who has the power to label them unreasonable, irrational and unable to complete complex tasks. This means psychology may be guilty of supporting institutional sexism.
What is the evaluation - reflexivity?
Many modern researchers are beginning to recognise the effect of their own values and assumptions on their work. Rather than seeing this as a problem that threatens objectivity, they embrace it as a crucial aspect of their studies. For instance, Dambrin and Lambert include reflection on how their gender-related experiences influence their reading of events.
