GENDER BIAS AO1 & AO3

Question 1

AO1.

Answer 1

• Gender bias is when men or women are mistreated and misinterpreted in psychological research. Psychology has historically been a male-dominated field, thus many psychological theories represent a male POV (known as androcentrism)
• Alpha bias is where theories exaggerate the differences between males and females. For example, Freud viewed femininity as a form of failed masculinity. In Freudian theory, boys suffer from castration anxiety in the phallic stage of psychosexual development and have pressure to form an identification with the same sex parent from whom they learn their morals (develop a superego). As females don’t have this pressure their sense of identification is weaker which causes them to develop a weaker superego. This devalues women in terms of their morality.
• Beta bias occurs when theories which ignore or minimise the differences between males and females. For example, fight or flight research has often been carried out with male animals as they have less variationin hormones than F. It was assumed that this would not be a problem as the fight or flight response would be the same for both.
• Yet, later research has challenged this view and provided evidence that females produce a tend-and-befriend response to stress. Females shift attention towards caring for offspring and form defensive networks with other females when stressed.
• This means female behaviour went largely unexamined until recently– we don’t understand their behaviours

Question 2

Gender bias in research can have serious implications for women.

Answer 2

• For example, gender-biassed
  research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes and validate discriminatory practices.
• This can have severe implications for women in the workplace, where they are denied promotions, and undermined within society.
• Furthermore, Tavris suggested if we use androcentric norms it becomes ‘normal’ for women to feel abnormal.
• This is a disadvantage as it may therefore have lasting and damaging consequences for real women.
• For instance, women may feel like they should not working and therefore contribute less to the economy- which has economic implications such as less tax revenue for the government.ng

Question 3

Gender bias is the result of sexism in the research process.

Answer 3

• For example, Denmark et al found that psychology is institutionally sexist and creates bias in theory and research.
• Some psychologists claim that
  males and females are not significantly different and that it is the research methodology used in gender research which is biassed, resulting in males and females appearing different when they are not.
• This is a disadvantage as it could decrease the validity of the theory, resulting in an alpha bias. Furthermore, lack of women at senior level means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked.

Question 4

Knowing gender bias exists means that we can try and reduce its negative impact.

Answer 4

• For example, modern researchers now recognise the role that personal biases can play in research, and aim to challenge them. They now see bias as a critical aspect of the research process.
• This led them to look for
  ways to reduce gender bias, For example, attempting to develop theories that emphasise the importance of women.
• For example, Cornwell et al. noted that females are better at learning, as they are more attentive and organised, thus emphasising both the value and the positive attributes of women. This is an advantage as this type of research helps to reduce gender stereotypes which helps reduce gender bias