Gender Bias Flashcards
What is androcentrism?
Androcentrism refers to a male-cantered perspective where male behaviour is treated as the standard, often leading to female behaviour being misunderstood or devalued. This bias can result in theories pathologizing natural female behaviour, as seen in Freud’s work.
What is alpha bias in gender bias?
Alpha bias exaggerates differences between genders, typically devaluing one gender compared to the other. For example, Freud’s psychosexual theory portrayed women as morally inferior due to weaker superegos.
What is beta bias in gender bias?
Beta bias ignores or minimizes differences between genders, assuming findings from one gender apply universally. For instance, early research on the fight-or-flight response used male-only samples, neglecting potential gender-specific responses.
Give an example of androcentrism in psychology.
An example of androcentrism is Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, which is based on male participants and generalizes these findings to females. This assumption overlooks the possibility of different moral reasoning patterns in women.
Give an example of alpha bias in psychological research.
Freud’s theory of psychosexual development portrays women as envious of men (penis envy), which reinforces gender stereotypes. It exemplifies how alpha bias can perpetuate negative views of one gender.
Give an example of beta bias in psychological research.
The fight-or-flight response is an example of beta bias, as early studies generalized male responses to females. Later research by Taylor et al. highlighted that females may use a “tend-and-befriend” strategy instead.
What is universality in the context of gender bias?
Universality assumes that findings in research apply equally to all genders without bias. This ideal often fails when studies use unrepresentative samples or methods.
What are the implications of alpha bias?
Alpha bias can reinforce gender stereotypes and contribute to social inequalities by exaggerating differences that may not exist in all contexts. This can marginalize one gender in areas like employment or education.
What are the implications of beta bias?
Beta bias can lead to a lack of understanding of gender-specific experiences, which may result in ineffective treatments or policies. For instance, mental health research that ignores hormonal differences may miss crucial factors in women’s well-being.
How can gender bias be avoided in research?
Researchers can avoid gender bias by using diverse samples, acknowledging potential biases, and ensuring conclusions do not perpetuate stereotypes. Awareness of androcentrism is crucial during both design and analysis stages.
Why is androcentrism problematic in psychology?
It can lead to theories that devalue or pathologize women, such as Freud’s assertion that emotionality is a sign of female irrationality. Such biases limit the applicability of psychological research and reinforce stereotypes
How can alpha bias be beneficial?
Alpha bias can highlight real gender differences that inform gender-specific healthcare, such as differences in cardiovascular disease symptoms. Recognizing these differences helps tailor interventions to each gender
How has beta bias impacted psychological research historically?
Beta bias has led to a lack of recognition of female-specific experiences in areas like stress and workplace dynamics. This oversight can perpetuate unequal access to resources or opportunities for women.
Why might universality be an ideal but unrealistic goal?
Researchers are influenced by their cultural and societal norms, which makes it difficult to eliminate bias entirely. Acknowledging this limitation can improve research transparency and accuracy.
How has feminist psychology addressed gender bias?
Feminist psychology challenges androcentric norms by promoting research that values female perspectives and experiences. This has led to more inclusive theories and practices in areas like therapy and mental health.
