Gender & Culture In Psychology Flashcards
What is gender bias?
Different treatment/representation of males & females based on stereotypes.
What is universality?
The belief that certain behaviours are the same for everyone (no gender/culture differences).
What are the three types of gender bias?
-Alpha bias.
-Beta bias.
-Androcentrism.
What is alpha bias?
Theories that exaggerate gender differences.
What is beta bias?
Theories that minimise gender differences.
What is androcentrism?
Belief that men’s behaviour represents the norm.
What is an example of alpha bias?
Wilson (1975) believed that the evolutionary theory of relationship formation focused on ‘survival efficiency.’
It is in a male’s interest to try and impregnate as many women as
possible due to his unlimited fertility.
For the female, her best chance is to ensure a healthy survival of her offspring, and must be picky rather promiscuous.
Sexual promiscuity in males is genetically determined while females engaging in similar activity is deemed unacceptable.
What are examples of beta bias?
-Milgram’s shockplate study.
-Asch’s line study.
-Zimbardo’s prison study.
What is an example of androcentrism?
Freud’s psychosexual stages: girls don’t experiences castration anxiety in the Phallic stage, so they’re not under the same pressure to identify with the same-sex parent. ‘Penis envy’ implies that females strive for male power.
Evaluation points for gender bias:
-Reinforces negative stereotypes about women (such as women taking up domestic duties as they are more ‘naturally suited’ for it).
-Fight-or-flight response may not apply as strongly top women, who may tend to lean towards tend-and-befriend.
What is culture bias?
The judgement of people in terms of cultural assumptions.
What are the types of culture bias?
-Ethnocentrism.
-Cultural relativism.
What is ethnocentrism?
World views from ones’ cultural perspective under the assumption that it is ‘correct’.
What is cultural relativism?
Behaviour can only be understood if cultural context is taken into consideration.
What are imposed etics?
The imposition of Western values onto different cultures.
