Gender bias Flashcards
Universality
The idea that conclusions drawn from behaviour can be applied to everybody, regardless of time period, gender or culture. For example, believing that some behaviours are the same for all genders.
AO1: Gender bias
Gender bias is when psychological research or theory offers a view that doesn’t represent the experience/behaviour of either men and women. Female psychologists argue that psychology has been built on the biased research of male psychologists and upholds male superiority. There are three types of gender bias that limit universality: androcentrism, alpha bias and beta bias.
AO1: Androcentrism
A male centred view on behaviour. Research that is based on a male only sample and then used as the standard or expected norm for both sexes. If our understanding of what is normal is from male only samples anything that deviates from this is seen as abnormal or inferior. This leads to female behaviour being seen as undesirable, misunderstood or abnormal.
For example in Asch’s study in conformity a male sample was used and then generalised to both sexes so if a female conformed more than 37% of the time they may have been seen as abnormal.
AO1: Beta bias
Research misrepresents behaviour as they ignore or minimise the differences between males and females. Therefore important aspects of female experience are ignored which limits any conclusions drawn. This occurs when female participants are not included in the sample and its assumed findings can be applied equally to both sexes.
For example the flight or fight response is described as universal but much of the early research was conducted on male animals.
AO1: Alpha bias
Research misrepresents behaviour as it exaggerates the differences between men and women serving to reinforce gender stereotypes and usually devalue women as they’re not usually seen as the norm. For example research on relationships has shown men seek a partner that is young and attractive whereas women seek a man with resources (high paid job) reinforcing these gender stereotypes.
What are the evaluations?
- PEEL
- Stretch
- PEEL
- PEEL
1) Scientific justification on stereotypes (alpha)
2) Stretch: reflects real differences
3) Research process
4) Androcentric
AO3: Scientific justification
Its argued that alpha bias in psychological research provides scientific justification for gender stereotypes. Evolutionary psychologists suggests there’s an innate difference between males and females with females being dependent on males to provide resources. Female psychologists argue that this can be used against women to maintain male power for example denying women opportunities within employment. Therefore alpha bias may impact females’ life prospects and further may negatively impact the economy due to the lack of women in the workforce.
AO3: Stretch
However evolutionary psychologists argue the research is reflecting genuine, universal gender based differences and ignoring them would misrepresent human behaviour.
AO3: Research process
Many argue that gender bias is emphasised in the research process. Psychology is dominated by male psychologists researching male issues using lab experiments and standardised conditions. This assumes men and women will receive equal treatment by the research and respond in the same ways to the researcher and experimental situation. This could create differences that don’t exist and mask real ones. Therefore it’s argue there should be more female psychologists using research methods such as qualitative interviews to enable females more equality in research and gain a more valid understanding of female behaviour.
AO3: Androcentric
However, it’s important to note that androcentric research does not always mean gender bias. For example both Milgram’s studies used a male only sample. However this was relevant to the aim of the study of understanding the behaviour of German Nazi soldiers who would have all been males. This recognition is important in scrutinising whether the research has gender bias. Furthermore it may be unrealistic to look at research through completely objective eyes. However the researcher should take steps to consider possible gender bis and the potential consequences of this.
