Gender bias Flashcards
What does bias undermine in psychology?
Threatens its claim to universality (that conclusions drawn can be applied to everyone, anywhere despite time or culture)
What are 2 forms of gender bias?
Alpha and beta
What is alpha bias?
Exaggerates differences in genders and suggests such differences are fixed and inevitable. More often than not devalues women in relation to men.
Who’s theory is a classic example of alpha bias?
Freud’s 1905 theory of psychosexual development
How does the theory which is an example of alpha bias devalue women?
Phallic stage - boys and girls develop desire for opposite gender parent. In boys this creates castration anxiety which is resolved when they identify with father. In girls, eventual identification is weaker therefore females superego is weaker making women morally inferior to men.
Who suggested that alpha bias can sometimes favour women in the psychodynamic approach?
Nancy Chodorow
Daughters and mothers have a greater connectedness than sons due to biology. Therefore, women develop a better ability to bond with others and empathise.
What is beta bias?
Ignores or underestimates differences assuming that research findings apply equally to both men and women even when one group has been excluded from the research process.
What has biological research generally favoured and why?
Using male animals as female behaviour is affected by regular hormonal changes due to ovulation. This simply ignores any possible differences.
What is a classic example of beta bias?
Fight or flight response
Who claims the fight or flight response is not accurate for women?
Shelley Taylor
Oxytocin is more plentiful in women and is increased in production in times of stress. Reduces fight or flight and enhances tend and befriend.
What other research minimises male representation?
Attachment - assumes emotional care is provided solely by mothers but research suggests fathers role can supply emotional care which is often assumed to be the province of women
What is androcentrism?
Male-centred - when ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to a male standard leading to female behaviour being judged as deficient in comparison
How has the APA perpetuated androcentrism?
Published a list of the 100 most influential psychologists of the 20th century which only included 6 women. Suggests psychology has traditionally been a subject produced by men, for men and about men.
Who said that women’s emotions (anger) are explained in hormonal terms but men’s anger in contrast is often seen as a rational response to external pressures?
Brescoll and Uhlmann 2008
Who suggested differences in verbal and spatial ability in girls and boys is hardwired into our brains prior to birth (ALPHA BIAS)?
Maccoby and Jacklin
Who carried out brain scans and found no sex differences in brain structure or processing in terms of verbal and spatial ability?
Daphna Joel et al.
Who counters this and finds there may be some biological truth to popular social stereotype but shouldn’t be exaggerated?
Madhura Ingalhalikar
Who said although psych’s undergrad intake is mainly women, lecturers are more likely men?
Murphy et al.
Who gave the example that a male researcher may already hold expectations that women are irrational and so are unable to complete complex tasks?
Nicolson 1995
Who found gender bias research is underfunded?
Formanowicz
Analysed more than 1000 articles published over 8 years.
What is refexivity?
Researchers recognise the effect their own values and assumptions have on the nature of their work.
Which researchers had a reflexive approach in their research on lack of women in executive roles?
Dambrin and Lambert 2008
