Issues and Debates: Gender Bias Flashcards
What is Universality?
The idea that conclusions drawn from research can be applied to everybody
What is gender bias?
When psychological research or theory offers a view that doesn’t represent the experience and behaviour of either men or women
What do female psychologists argue?
Psychology has been built on biased research of male pscyhologists and has been shaped to uphold male superiority
What is Androcentrism?
Reseach based only on males, then it’s used as the standard/expected norm for both sexes
What impact does androcentrism have?
Any behaviour that deviates from this is seen as abnormal/inferior
Leads to female behaviour being misunderstood or pathologised
What topic links to androcentrism?
Research into conformity by Asch was conducted on a sample of males and generalised to both sexes, if females conformed more than 37% of the time, they may be seen as abnormal
What is Beta bias?
Research/theories minimise the differences between males and females
What is the impact of beta bias?
Important aspects of female experiences are ignored, limits any conclusions drawn
What topic does beta bias link to?
Flight or fight response has been describes as universal but much of the early research was conducted on male animals
What is Alpha bias?
Research/theories misrepresents behaviours as it exaggerates differences between males and females,
What is the impact of alpha bias?
Reinforces gender stereotypes and usually devalues women as women are often not seen as ‘the norm’
What topic does alpha bias link to?
Research on relationships shown that males seek a partner that is young and attractive whereas females seek a man with resources, reinforcing these gender stereotypes
What is some AO3 for alpha bias?
Alpha bias such as evolutionary psychology promotes inappropriate stereotypes
Findings suggest that females are dependent on males which can lead to feeling of inferiority and promote discrimination
Evolutionary psychology emphasises any gender differences are innate, due to genetics which gives a biological justifications for gender bias within society
Gender bias within research can provide a scientific reasoning to deny women opportunities within employment and can validate discrimination which can impact the economy and female’s life prospects
What is some AO3 for gender bias?
Gender bias is further emphasised by male psychologists and the use of lab experiments, argued to favour male ppts
Lab experiments produce unfair relationships with male researchers able to use their power to label females as irrational/unreasonable with use of quantitative data
Tavris argues that research methods used should be adapted to enable females more equality in research such as more qualitative data/interviews to fully understand female behaviour
If continue with current methodology, may lead to negative consequences for women when generalised beyong the setting of the experiment
