I + D: Gender Bias

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

Psychologists have beliefs + values influenced by social + historical context they live in

=> undermines claims about discovering facts about behaviour that’s objective + consistent for all

Question 2

Gender bias

Answer 2

Bias = leaning towards a personal view that doesn’t reflect reality

In terms of gender => theory + research may not represent experiences for all genders

Question 3

Definition of Alpha Bias

Answer 3

Differences between the sexes are presented as fixed and exaggerates them => often devaluing women in relation to men

Question 4

Example of Alpha Bias - Psychodynamic Theory (favours men)

Answer 4

Freud claimed that the phallic stage’s resolve in identify with the same sex parent is weaker in girls than boys

=> believed this created a weaker Superego + moral development

Question 5

Example of Alpha Bias - Chodorow (‘68) + empathy (favours women)

Answer 5

Said daughters + mothers are more connected than sons + mothers due to similar biology

=> women develop better bonds + empathy for others

Question 6

Definition of beta bias

Answer 6

Minimises/ignores the differences between men and women

=> often occurs by female ps not being included in research so findings are presumed to apply to both sexes

Question 7

Example of Beta Bias - Taylor et al (‘00) - Fight or Flight/ Tend + Befriend

Answer 7

Early research into f+f was based on male animals as female hormones fluctuate => assumed to be universal

T et al - suggest females have t+b due to oxytocin being more plentiful in women => reduces f+f => evolved response for caring for young

Question 8

Androcentrism (male centred) in Psychology - Brescoll + Ulhmann (‘08)

Answer 8

Psych is a male dominated subject => leads to female behaviour being misunderstood or pathologised

e.g. feminists object idea of PMS as it medicalises female emotions (e.g. anger) by using hormonal explanations
=> but for men (b+u) it’s a rational response to external pressure

Question 9

(L) Gender differences are gives as fixed + enduring

Answer 9

Maccoby + Jacklin (‘74) - girls have better verbal ability + boys better spatial ability - due to hardwired brain diffs.

Joel et al (2015) brain scanning found no gender diffs
Suggests => should be wary accepting research as bio facts when better explained as stereotypes

Question 10

COUNTER (S) - some truth to some social stereotypes - Ingalhalikar (2014)

Answer 10

Stereotype of females being better multitaskers has so bio truth => brain hemispheres better connected

Suggests => there’s some bio diffs (still be wary of exaggeration tho)

Question 11

(L) Gender bias promotes sexism in research process - Nicolson (‘95)

Answer 11

women underrepresented in uni departments => research more likely by males => disadvantages females

e.g. N et al - male researcher expect female pps to be irrational + unable to complete complex tasks => underperform

Suggests institutional structures + psych methods may produce gender-biased findings

Question 12

(L) Research challenging bias may not be published - Formanowicz et al (2018)

Answer 12

Analysed 1000 articles on gender bias => research is funded less and published by less prestigious journals

=> still true when compared to ethnic bias + when factors were controlled (gender of author, method)

Suggests gender bias isn’t taken as seriously as other forms of bias

Question 13

AO3 Extra: Reflexity

Answer 13

Modern researchers recognise effect assumptions that’s in their work + embrace them as part of process

Suggests - gender bias adds extra layer to research if psychologists are honest about their research