Gender Bias in Psychology - A01

Question 1

Who Proposed that there are 2 different ways that theories may be biased ?

Answer 1

Marecek and Hare-Mustin (1988)

Question 2

What are the 2 types of biases ?

Answer 2

Alpha and Beta Bias.

Question 3

What is Alpha gender bias ?

Answer 3

• Alpha bias exaggerates the differences between men and women.
• Consequence is one gender is devalued in comparison to the other.

Question 4

What is Beta gender bias ?

Answer 4

• Beta bias minimises the differences between men and women.
• Consequence is that the needs of one gender tend to be ignored.

Question 5

What is Androcentrism ?

Answer 5

• Most of Psychological research has been male dominated.
• Therefore, the theories they produce represent a male world view.
• Androcentrism can lead to alpha or beta bias.

Question 6

What is Universality ?

Answer 6

• Develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real differences.

Question 7

An example of Alpha Bias :

Answer 7

• Freud’s research
• He viewed men as superior to women and in his psychoanalysis he viewed femininity as a failed masculinity - exaggerating the differences.
• Josselson (1988) —–> women seen as inferior to men due to penis envy as they cannot undergo the same Oedipus conflict as boys do. Meaning they morally are inferior as they have a weaker identification with their mother.

Question 8

An example of Beta Bias :

Answer 8

• Stress research, fight or flight response was seen to be universal.
• Biological research conducted with male animals assumed that there would be no difference as what is true for males is true for females.
• However, Shelley (2000) ——> women take more tend and befriend approach as it is adaptive so ensures survival of their offspring.
• Led to stress response not being fully understood.