Issues/Debates: Gender bias

Question 1

Androcentrism

Answer 1

Male-dominated society and so theories produced by psychology often represent the male world-view, and this viewed as the norm

This means psychology can end up having certain gender bias

Question 3

Universality

Answer 3

The aim to develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real differences between genders without applying superiority

Question 4

The feminist perspective on gender bias

Answer 4

Gilligan - although very real BIOLOGICAL differences, many social stereotypes contribute to perceived differences which cause gender bias

Question 5

Evaluation

Answer 5

(+) identifying stereotypes outlined in feminist perspective can resolve issue
(-) poor samples and biased methods of research can cause a difference e.g male only experimenters

Question 6

Hare-Mustin and Marecek:

Two different types of bias

Answer 6

Alpha bias : exaggerates differences between men and women - can lead to one gender devalued in comparison with the other e.g Freud believed men were superior and viewed femininity as failed masculinity (penis envy)

Beta bias: minimises differences between men and women - assuming what is true for one is true for both and so using one gender and applying results to whole population e.g fight or flight is argued to be different for women=tend and befriend