Gender bias

Question 1

Gender bias

Answer 1

When psychological research or theories may offer a view that doesn’t justifiably represent the experience and behaviour of men or women (usually women)

Question 2

Androcentrism

Answer 2

When studies and theories are based from a male perspective - so female behaviour is often judged to be abnormal by comparison
- May be because a male psychologist studied it - e.g Freud’s oedipus complex

Question 3

Alpha bias

Answer 3

Research that focuses on differences between men and women and therefore tends to present a view that exaggerates these differences
- For example - Bowlby’s monotropic theory - He suggested that women are more central in caregiving compared to men

Question 4

Beta bias

Answer 4

Research that focuses on similarities between men and women and therefore tends to present a view that ignores or minimises differences
- For example - Fight or flight response - Is assumed to also take place the exact same in women but research has found that women have more of a tend and befriend response

Question 5

Gender bias - evaluation - limitation

Answer 5

• Sexism in research
• Women remain underrepresented in uni departments
• Psychology students are mainly women but the lecturers are more likely to be men
• Means research is more likely to be conducted by men and this may disadvantage participants who are women

Question 6

Gender bias - evaluation - limitation 2

Answer 6

• Gender biased research
• Research challenging gender bias may not be published
• Research has found that research into gender bias is funded less often and is published by less journals
• So fewer researchers are aware of it or apply it within their own work