Issues and debates Flashcards
GENDER BIAS (AO1) - Gender bias definition.
- differential treatment/representation of males & females based on stereotypes & not real differences.
GENDER BIAS (AO1) - What is alpha bias and give an example.
Alpha bias- theories that provide exaggerated differences between males & females.
FREUD (psychosexual development)
- argues that there is a genuine psychological difference between males & females
- suggests that women are inferior by suggesting that young girls experience ‘penis envy’
- he viewed femineity as failed masculinity
GENDER BIAS (AO1) - What is beta bias and give an example.
Beta bias- ignores/minimises sex differences between males & females, often assumes that findings from males can be equally applied to females.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT (biopsychology)
- research was often carried out on male animals
- assumed fight or flight was same for both sexes
- HOWEVER it has pos outcome as more research done for females
TAYLOR (2002), found females adopted a ‘tend or befriend’ approach where they formed an alliance with another women or protect their offspring in stressful situations.
GENDER BIAS (AO1) - What is androcentrism and give an example.
Androcentrism- theories which are centred/focused on males
ASCH (social influence)
- 123 male ptp’s
- assumed that results from the study could be equally applied to females
CULTURE BIAS (AO1) - Culture bias definiton.
- tendency to judge people in terms of of ones own cultural assumptions.
CULTURE BIAS (AO1) - What is alpha bias (culture) and give an example.
- theory assumes groups are profoundly different.
VAN LJZENDOORN & KROONENBERG (attachment)
- in Ainsworth’s strange situation test - highest rate of insecure avoidant was found in German kids (category suggests that this is negative)
- German mothers encourage independence, suggests research suffers from ethnocentrism.
CULTURE BIAS (AO1) - What is beta bias (culture) and give an example.
- real cultural differences are ignore/minimised, people assume people are the same, results in universal research designs & conclusions.
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY & DEFINITIONS OF ABNORMALITY (schizophrenia)
- symptom of hearing voices in schiz is common in some cultures (and is a pos experience) but may be statistically infrequent in others.
- by assuming that same rules apply universally (beta bias) we may diagnose people as mentally ill, but that diagnosis is relative to our culture.
CULTURE BIAS (AO1) - What is ethnocentrism?
- seeing the world from ones own cultural perspective and believing that perspective is normal & correct.
CULTURE BIAS (AO1) - What is cultural relativism?
- insists behaviour can only be properly understood if cultural context is taken into consideration.
CULTURE BIAS (AO1, additional) - What is Emic constructs?
- specific to given culture & vary from one culture to another, look at behaviour from inside of the cultural system.
CULTURE BIAS (AO1, additional) - What is Etic constructs?
- analysis of behaviour focused on the universal of human behaviour factors that hold across all cultures, looking at behaviour from outside the cultural context.
ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH STUDIES & THEORIES (AO1) - What are the 4 aspects in the research where ethical implications may arise?
Research questions; questions may be damaging to a particular group (racial/sexual orientation, etc) because it appears to add scientific credibility to prejudice.
Conduct of research & treatment of ptps; confidentiality of info of ptps (should confidentiality be maintained if they confess to a crime).
Institutional context; research may be funded/managed by a private institution who may misuse or misunderstand data. They media may obtain reports of this.
Interpretation & application of findings; research may be used for purposes not originally intended for.
ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH STUDIES & THEORIES (AO1) - Give example of study that has ethical implications within the research.
MILGRAM, 1963 (social influence)
- ptp’s deceived so unable to give informed consent.
- caused distress as coerced against their will to administer shocks
- question harmful as was researching if ‘Germans are really evil’ after Holocaust.
ETHICAL IMPLICATIOND OF RESEARCH STUDIES & THEORIES (AO1) - What is socially sensitive research and what are the ethical issues within it?
SSR- research which could have social consequences or implications for the ptps in the group or the people that they represent (social group, family & friends, government, researchers & institutions).
PRIVACY- invasion of private lives.
CONFIDENTIALITY- less willing to give info in future if broken.
DECEPTION- includes self-deception, may form stereotypes which affects ones own performance.
INFORMED CONSENT- ptps may not always comprehend what’s involved in study.
(not necessary to discuss all, just provide brief example).
ETHICAL IMPLICATIOND OF RESEARCH STUDIES & THEORIES (AO1) - Give example of a study/theory that is socially sensitive.
BOWLBY (attachment)
- although it helped childcare practices (bonds & attachment), it has reinforced the idea that a women’s place is at home with her child which could make her feel guilty about wanting to return to work following childbirth.
FREE WILL VS DETERMINISM (AO1) - What is determinism?
- behaviour which is controlled by external or internal factors acting upon the individual
