Gender Bias

Question 1

What is gender bias

Answer 1

The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real differences

Question 2

What is androcentrism

Answer 2

Male-centred: when ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to a male standard

Question 3

What is alpha bias

Answer 3

A tendency to exaggerate difference between men and women= theories devalue one gender in comparison to another

Question 4

What is beta bias

Answer 4

A tendency to ignore or minimise differences between men and women

Question 5

What is universality

Answer 5

Aim to develop theories that apply to all people, despite differences of upbringing and experience

Question 6

What are 3 pieces of research which show alpha bias

Answer 6

1. Diagnosis of mental disorders
2. Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment
3. Freud’s theory of moral development

Question 7

How does the diagnosis of mental disorders show alpha bias

Answer 7

• depression more likely to be diagnosed in women compared to men; woman are more open about problems and more likely to seek treatment
• just because males don’t report symptoms doesn’t mean they’re not suffering from depression; differences between sexes= exaggerated

Question 8

How does Bowlby’s monotropic theory of attachment show alpha bias

Answer 8

• mothers need to stay home and care for children otherwise could damage children’s social, cognitive and emotional development
• implies only mother can fulfil this role; reinforcing differences between sexes

Question 9

How does Freud’s theory of moral development show alpha bias

Answer 9

• Freud= girls don’t develop as strong a superego as boys as they face less pressure to identify with same sex parent (mother)
• they blame mother for castrating them and have penis envy= greater identification with father
• leads to idea that women are inferior to men as are less morally developed than men (superego is responsible for moral conscious); exaggeration in differences between sexes

Question 10

What are three pieces of research which show beta bias

Answer 10

1. Asch and Milgram’s social influences research
2. The fight or flight response
3. Kohlberg’s research on moral development

Question 11

How does Asch and Milgram’s research show beta bias

Answer 11

Used only male participants; assumption made there would be no difference between male and females in terms of obedience and conformity and so can apply this data to females

Question 12

How does the fight or flight response show beta bias

Answer 12

• early research conducted on male animals only; assumed would be true for females
• this has been challenged; found female biology has evolved to inhibit fight or flight response and adopt tend-and-befriend response= shift attention towards caring for offspring and forming defensive networks with other females

Question 13

How does Kohlberg’s research on moral development show beta bias

Answer 13

• research based mainly on male-orientated dilemmas, using male participants
• assumed no difference between men and women in terms of moral thinking; wouldn’t matter if only used male participants as responses could be applied to all

Question 14

Why should research avoid beta bias

Answer 14

Minimising differences between sexes could draw attention away from women’s special needs such as parental leave for pregnancy

Question 15

What are some social implications of gender bias research

Answer 15

Could validate discriminatory practises against females eg. In the workplace

Question 16

How can psychologists reverse alpha bias

Answer 16

To develop theories which show the differences between men and women, but that emphasise the value of women