Gender Bias Flashcards
What is an issue?
A topic that creates conflict.
In psychology, there are a number of issues that are really important that they can’t be ignored.
What happens if psychological issues are ignored?
If they are ignored then it can potentially undermine the value of psychological theories and research.
State 2 common issues within psychology.
Ethical issues.
The role of animals.
Cultural bias.
Gender bias.
What are debates?
Ongoing academic discussions about the fundamental aspects of human behaviour.
State 2 debates within psychology.
Nature vs nurture.
Free will vs determinism.
Holism vs reductionism.
What is a bias?
The action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair way, because of allowing personal opinions to influence your judgement.
State 3 implications of a bias.
Makes research less applicable and valid.
Results are less accurate, more personal influence to corrupt results.
Loss of objectivity, relationship between variables weakened.
The research may not be replicable.
Bias may not be completely eliminated from research, but it can be reduced. State two ways in which this could be done.
E.g. researcher may carry out a bias unconsciously.
E.g. gender studies - male/female relationship within the study.
What is universality? Explain.
Any underlying characteristics of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences in experiences, upbringing, time, or culture.
This raises the nature vs nurture debate.
It shows that globally, there is an instinctive to form an attachment.
Countries may vary with what attachment is most common - but they all still experience attachments.
What is an alpha bias? Give 2 examples of researches with an alpha bias.
If a theory identifies gender differences, but suggests that one gender is better than another.
Acknowledging the differences, but exaggerating the differences
For example:
E.g. Milgram.
E.g. Bowlby.
E.g. Freud.
What is an beta bias? Give an example of research with an beta bias.
When a theory ignores of downplays the differences.
Research that views males and females as similar.
Not acknowledging the differences.
Limits how far you can generalise your results.
For example:
E.g. Asch
What is androcentrism?
‘Male bias’.
Men’s behaviour is the standard against which women’s behaviour is compared.
Comparing the male standard to undocumented female results.
What did Tavris state in 1993? What does this highlight?
Stated that most cultures take male behaviour as standard, thus women must make the decision to behave like a male or different from them.
This highlights how psychological treatments are largely only beneficial to one gender, and that they should be individualistic, in order to combat the bias.
E.g. for OCD, symptoms are picked up later in female life, as the findings are based on male studies.
What is essentialism?
Gender differences in question are inevitable/ fixed by nature.
Outline ways in which an alpha bias can be overcome.
Ensuring that the norms and values of women are seen as just as men (and vice versa).
Emphasis on the female norm has led to the development of feminist psychology as an established branch.
Feminist psychologists believe real biological differences between men and women, but also acknowledge the role of socially influenced stereotyping.
