Gender bias and Culture bias in ψ

Question 1

Explain what is meant by the term universality

Answer 1

• idea that conclusions drawn from research can be applied to everybody , regardless of time period , gender or culture

eg believing some bh is for all genders

Question 2

Explain what is meant by the term Gender bias

Answer 2

When ψ R or theory offers a view that does not represent the experience + bh of either men and women

Question 3

What do feminist ψ’s argue about Gender bias?

Answer 3

• ψ has been built on biased R on male psychologists and has been shaped to uphold male superiority

Question 4

Give a x2 topic examples for Gender Bias

Answer 4

1. Attachment to mother than father
2. Conformity to social roles

Question 5

Define Androcentricism

Answer 5

• R that is based only on males then used as standard expected norms for both genders
• if our understanding of what normal bh is comes from male only samples than any bh that deviates = abnormal/inferior
• leads to female bh being misunderstood /patholgised (taken as sign of psych instability)

Question 6

Give a x2 Topic examples for Androcentricism

Answer 6

1. R into Conformity by Asch conducted on sample of 💁‍♂️ + then generalised to both sexes

if 💁‍♀️conformed >37% = abnormal

2. Zimbardo 24 💁‍♂️ ppts

Question 7

Define Beta Bias

Answer 7

• R/theories misrepresent bh as they ignore/minimise differences between 💁‍♂️+💁‍♀️
• ∴ important aspects of 💁‍♀️ exp not included in sampled assumed that findings can apply equally to both sexes

Question 8

Give x2 Topic examples for Beta Bias

Answer 8

1. fight/flight response described as universal but most of R conducted on male animals

2.

Question 9

Define Alpha Bias

Answer 9

• R/theories misinterpret bh as it EXAGGERATES DIFFEENCES bw 💁‍♀️💁‍♂️serving to reinforce gender roles
  and usually devalue women as women not seen as the ‘norm’

Question 10

Give 2 topic examples for Alpha Bias

Answer 10

1. R on rs (Buss) shown that males seek partner that is young and attractive WHR
   females seek man with resources eg high paying jobs reinforcing gender stereotypes
2. bio psych more connections in corpus collosum in 💁‍♂️ quicker DM

Question 11

What does alpha bias R promote?

Answer 11

P - inappropriate stereotypes as findings suggest 💁‍♀️ are dependent on 💁‍♂️

E - can lead to feelings of inferiority and promote discrimination

E - evol ψ emphasise any gender diff are INNATE due to genetics🧬 which gives biological justification for gender bias in society

L - ∴ gender bias w in R can provide a scientific reasoning to deny 💁‍♀️ opps + can validate disc which can impact the economy and 💁‍♀️ life prospects

Question 12

How is gender bias further emphasised?

Answer 12

P - 💁‍♂️ψ + used of Lab exps which argued to favour male ppts

E - Lab exps produce inequitable unfair rs w 💁‍♂️R’s able to use their power to label females as irrational/unreasonable w use of quant data

E - Tavris argues that RM that are used should be adapted to enable females more equality in R such as more qual data collection methods eg interviews to fully understand human bh

L - ∴ if we continue w this methodology may have - conseq for 💁‍♀️ when generlised beyond setting of exp

Question 13

How is Gender Bias helpful

Answer 13

P - PRAC APPS used in soc

E - by having gender bias in R it can help identify biological differences🧬 bw 💁‍♀️💁‍♂️

E - eg R from (Eagley 1978) found 💁‍♀️ to be less effective leaders than 💁‍♂️

> however from this claim it helped R’s develop training programmes aimed at reducing lack of 💁‍♀️ leaders in 🌍

L - ∴ GB should be considered an important part of applied psych when ⬇️ gender discrimination in real world 🌍

Question 14

Define Universality as applied to cultures

Answer 14

• idea that conclusions drawn from research can be applied to everybody regardless of time period, gender or culture

eg believing some bf’s are same for all cultures

Question 15

Define Culture Bias

Answer 15

• when psych studies/theories ignore cultural diff assuming that their findings can be generalised globally
• however much R has been conducted in western unis (educated ppl from wealthy backgrounds) ,meaning results only applicable to that culture
• some bias R have assumed their culture is the norm

Question 16

Give 2 findings of of psychologists

Answer 16

1992- 64% of 🌍 56,000 psychs R’s are American

94% of studies cited in textbook of social psych conducted in America

Question 17

N - Define Ethnocentrism

Answer 17

E - The assumption that one ethnic group/culture is superior to another or to all ethnic groups emphasising importance of ones own culture leads to belief that bh’s of ethnic group/culture is the norm and others are seen as abnormal/strange which can lead to prejudice + disc

Question 18

Give 2 Topic examples of Ethnocentrism

Answer 18

T - several R’s conducted studies on IQ and have identified that those from African-carribean backgrounds score avrg 15 points lower on IQ tests than caucasians

Question 19

Give Research into ethnocentrism

Answer 19

> R into IQ tests provides clear example of ethnocentric bias

> tests have been dev and tested in western world based on western views of intelligence so not suitable for other cultures

> IQ tests been misused to reinforce superiority of western culture lead to disc + prejudice in immigration policy and sterilising of I who dot meet expectation of western IQ

> R shown that culturally relative IQ tests cultural diff in scores do not exist ∴ showing clear culture bias with the tool and damaging consequences of such ethnocentrism/culture bias

Question 20

What do critics point out about ethnocentrism

Answer 20

> culture may be outdated concept

> bc viewing cultures as Individualistic/western or collectivist/non western is lazy generalisation as many similarities bw cultures due to increased interconnectedness (globalisation) +effect of media influences

> Van ijendoorn and Kroonberg show that there is a greater variation within cultures than bw cultures in attachment types

> ∴ concept of culture may lack val so R’s should place more focus on social and economic pressures on I within soc rather than placing focus on culture

Question 21

Define Cultural Relativism

Answer 21

1. This is the appreciation that bh vary bw cultures and that there is no right/wrong answer

it is important to consider I’d bh within their culture before making a judgement bc social norms are culturally relative as what is considered acceptable in one culture may be unacceptable elsewhere

Question 22

Give a Topic Example for Cultural Relativism

Answer 22

defining abnormality it should be appreciated that what is seen as abnormal in one culture may not be deemed abnormal in a
another culture

Question 23

Why is this criticised for lacking cultural relativism

Answer 23

P - much R in psychology criticised

E - when defining abnormality DSN
criticised for lacking cultural relativism as different cultures as diff cultures have diff social norms and expectations of bh

eg messages sent from spirits could be symptom of sz ‘shaman’ therefore due to culture bias may not be appropriate to use western diagnostically manuals to diagnose mental health conditions in non western cultures

Question 24

Why should researches be cautious ?

Answer 24

P - R shud be cautious when they consider the distinction bw cultural relativism and universality

E - whilst some bhs may be culturally relative it would be inappropriate to assume that there is not at least some universality

eg Ainsworth R highlighted cultural diff in child rearing practices despite secure A being most common across all cultures

L - ∴ to fully understand human bh it is essential to consider the relative contribution of cultural relativism and universality when conducting R