Issues And Debates Flashcards
gender bias
What is the definition of gender
The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes
gender bias
What is the definition of alpha bias
When the differences between men and women are exaggerated to boost or put down the value of women
gender bias
How did Freud show alpha bias
Concluded that women had weaker superegos that men because they had less reason to identify with mother as there was no fear of castration
Freud said: ‘femininity is an expression of failed masculinity’
gender bias
What is beta bias
When differences between the two sexes are ignored or minimalised. This is often seen when female participants are not involved as part of a research process and it is then assumed the findings apply equally to both sexes.
gender bias
What is the definition of androcentrism
Male cantered- when behaviour is judged according to the male standard, usually making women appear abnormal. This is caused through both alpha and beta bias and is caused by psychology being a male-dominated field
gender bias
How does the research into fight or flight show beta bias
All research into fight or flight was based off a study on men. It was then assumed women had the same fights or flight response as men. Whereas reality showed women’s fight or flight is inhibited as they care for offspring or form defensive networks
gender bias
How does Milgrams research show beta bias
Said 65% of people went up to 400v (only studied men)
Sheridan and king found 100% of women went up to 400v
gender bias
How is PMS an example of androcentrism
If a man is angry it is believed to be a rational response to a stimulus
If a woman is angry it is said to be her hormones
gender bias
What are the limitations of gender bias
Sexism in research- women still under represented when data is collected- leads to beta bias and can be harmful for stereotypes.
Gender bias not taken seriously- formanowicz analysed over 1000 articles on bender bias over 8 years and found that research on gender bias is often funded less and published in less prestigious journals
Contradictory evidence- Joel found that when he scanned the brains of men and women he found that there were no differences in structure or processing between the two genders. Disproving the theory that there is neural differences between men and women (Maccoby and Jacklin)
culture bias
What is the definition of culture bias
A tendency to interpret behaviour and attitudes through the ‘lens’ of one’s own cultures ignoring the effects that cultural differences may have
culture bias
What did Henrichs find about culture bias in psychology
68% of research participants are from the USA
96% are from industrialised nations
culture bias
What name did Henrich give to people who usually participate in psychological studies
WEIRD
White
Educated people
From industrialised
Rich
Democracies
culture bias
How does the US diagnosis of mental health problems show culture bias
Because it is diagnosed using the DSM and is likely to be administered by a white doctor
culture bias
How many times more likely is a black West Indian to be admitted to a mental hospital than a white person in London
2
culture bias
What is the definition of ethnocentrism
The belief in the superiority of one’s own cultural group. This means other cultures are judged by the standard of one’s own culture, leading to prejudice and discrimination
culture bias
What is an example of ethnocentrism in research
Ainsworth’s strange situation
USA norm for attachment was ‘secure’
German and Japanese babies said to have insecure attachment for being more independent or clingy, when in reality this was ‘secure’ for their cultures
culture bias
What is an example of ethnocentrism in real world
Intelligence tests in USA to join the army
culture bias
How did Adrian dove prove USA intelligence tests to be culturally bias
Made the chitling test
culture bias
What is an etic approach to research
Research conducted in one country is applied to others
For example Starbucks and strange situation
culture bias
What is an emic approach to research
Research conducted within one small specific culture/area and only used to describe behaviour in that culture
For example McDonald’s
culture bias
What is cultural relativism
When psychologists understand that the ‘things’ they discover can only be meaningful and understood within the specific culture they were discovered.
culture bias
How did Birslin show intelligence testing showed ethnocentrism and an etic approach
The Baganda people of Uganda characterise intelligence as slow careful and deliberate thought which would not suit a western IQ test which is timed. This could lead to discrimination and prejudice
culture bias
What are limitations of culture bias
Much research is culturally bias- Asch only studied white middle-class Americans. When this was replicated in collectivist cultures conformity was much higher. This can lead to harmful prejudice and stereotypes
Harmful effects- Gould showed how conscription tests for WW1 were ethnocentric and made for white people. This made minorities appear less intelligent and ‘mentally unfit’
culture bias
What are the strengths of culture bias
Psychology has changed- Takano and Osaka found that in 14/15 studies comparing the USA to Japan there was no evidence of ‘individualism’ or ‘collectivism’- saying this conclusion is ‘lazy’ and simplistic. Shows culture bias is less of a problem now
Advanced psychology- cultural psychology is now a field that was established due to cultural bias. This incorporates sociology, political science and anthropology and takes an emic approach to tackle cultural bias.
free will vs determinism
What is the definition of free will
The bottom that humans can make choices and that their behaviours and thoughts are not determined by biological or environmental factors
