Gender Bias (issues and debates)

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

It can apply to all people

Question 2

Bias

Answer 2

A preference

Question 3

Alpha bias

Answer 3

Differences between males and females are exaggerated in psychological research

Question 4

An example of alpha bias

Answer 4

Freud’s psychodynamic theory - Oedipus v Electra complex

Question 5

Beta bias

Answer 5

Differences between men and women are ignored

Question 6

Example of beta bias

Answer 6

Asch’s research - only male participants but the findings were generalised to all members of the population

Eagly and Chrvala (1986) found that older women were significantly more likely to conform than males.

Question 8

Androcentrism

Answer 8

Focused on males (male researchers researching male participants)

Question 9

Preventing gender bias

Answer 9

Do not generalise, use male and female researchers, use male and female participants

Question 10

Gender bias evaluation

Answer 10

3 limitations and 1 strength

Question 11

Strength

Answer 11

Alpha bias has encouraged female psychologists to research female qualities - Gilligan’s theory of morality

Question 12

Limitation (stereotypes)

Answer 12

Alpha bias reinforces negative stereotypes (MAOA gene - males are more likely to have a faulty MAOA gene - socially sensitive)

Question 13

Limitation (validity)

Answer 13

Not all gender bias research is challenged - Darwin suggested that females are ‘choosier’, however, it is suggested that women are just as competitive as men - lacks validity