gender bias

Question 1

AO1: universality, gender bias, androcentrism

Answer 1

Universality: any characteristic of human beings that can be applied to all, despite their differences.

gender bias: when a theory/research may offer a view that does not justifiably represent either men or women

androcentrism: centred/dominated by men. Gender bias is a consequence of this.

Question 2

AO1: alpha bias

Answer 2

alpha bias- theories that exaggerate the differences between males and females (suggesting they can’t be compared)

e.g. s Freud’s view of gender in the psychosexual stage, phallic. The oedipal complex suggests boys have a sexual desire for their mother and resolve this by identifying with their father. However girls have the electra complex and identify less with her mother and have a weaker superego. This suggests women are inferior to men.

Question 3

AO1: Beta bias

Answer 3

minimises the differences between men and women (suggesting the findings of men can be apples to women)

e.g. the flight or flight response is assuming it can be applied to both men and women but they only did research on men. However research was done on women and it found they are more likely to have a tend and befriend response.

Question 4

AO3: issue- gender bias can have negative implications on society.

However their may be some biological truth

Answer 4

P: gender bias can have negative implications on society.
E/E: scientists proposed that intellectual activity in women shrinks their ovaries so they should not attend university as it would risk their chances of giving birth.
L: this is a political motivated argument that has been disguised as a biological fact when it comes to gender differences within gender bias.

However a psychologist found the stereotype that women are better at multitasking than men may have some truth to it as their hemispheres are better connected. This suggests that there may be some biological differences but we still need to be aware they are not exaggerated.

Question 5

AO3: issue- gender bias promotes sexism in the research process

Answer 5

P: one issue is that gender bias promotes sexism in the research process
E: n the past women were underrepresented in psychology departments. Research was more likely to be conducted by men, meaning it was androcentric.
E: For example, male psychologists may expect female participants to behave in different ways to male.
L: This means that the institutional structures and methods of psychology may produce findings that are gender biassed.

However, now there are a lot more females in the psychology field e.g. the Stanford psychology department used to be male dominated and is now female dominated. This shows the issues with gender bias have improved since the past.

Question 6

AO3: issue- research challenging gender bias may not be published

Answer 6

P: one issue research challenging gender bias may not be published
E: therefore they can challenge negative stereotypes and discriminatory practices.
E: by adopting a reflexive approach modern researchers recognise the effect assumptions have their work and embrace them as crucial aspects of the research process
L:this suggests that gender bias in research may not be taken as serious as other bias’s.

Question 7

AO3: a way of overcoming gender bias is to make sure researchers are constantly reflective in their approach.

Answer 7

P: A way of overcoming gender bias is to make sure researchers are constantly reflective in their approach to research and more women psychologists today helps to alleviate this issue.
E: therefore they can challenge negative stereotypes and discriminatory practices.
E: By adopting a reflexive approach modern researchers recognise the effect assumptions have on their work and embrace them as crucial aspects of the researcher process.
L: This suggests that gender bias may add an extra dimension to research if psychologists are up front about it in their work.