key terms Flashcards
gender bias
results when one gender is treated less favourably than the other
alpha bias
when the differences between men and women are exaggerated
beta bias
when the differences between men and women are minimised
andocentrism
taking male thinking/ behaviour as normal regarding female thinking/ behaviour as deviant when it’s different
culture
all the knowledge and values shared by a society
emic consruct
a construct that is applied to only one cultural group
emic aproach
the investigation of a culture from within the culture itself
culture bias
when a researcher assumes an emic construct is actually an etic
etic construct
a theoretical idea that is assumed to apply in all cultural groups
imposed etics
a construct from one culture is applied inappropriately to another
ethnocentrism
when a researcher assumes their own culturally specific practices or ideas are ‘natural’ or ‘right’
cultural relativism
the principle of regarding the beliefs, values and practices of a culture from the viewpoint of that culture itself
environmental determinism
our behaviour is caused by some sort of outside influence
biological determinism
our biological systems govern our behaviour
psychic determinism
Freud believed childhood experiences and unconscious motivations governed behaviour
hard determinism
free will is an illusion and every event and action has a cause
soft determinism
represents middle ground, people do have a choice but that choice is constrained by external factors
Nature
Te view that all our behaviour is determined by our biology
Nurture
All behaviour is learnt and influenced by external factors
Holism
Behaviour cannot be understood in terms of the components that make them up
Reductionism
The belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into smaller component parts
Nomothetic approach
How our behaviours are similar to each others as human beings
Idiographic approach
How our behaviours are different to each other
Privacy
Asking people questions of a personal nature could offend
Confidentiality
Information leaked to others may affect a participants life
Sound and valid methodology
When research findings are publicised people are likely to take them as fact
Deception
Causing the wider public to believe something which isn’t true
Informed consent
Participants should be informed of how they are taking part in research
Justice and equitable treatment
E.g. publicising an idea which creates prejudice against a specific group
Scientific freedom
Science shouldn’t be censored but there should be some monitoring of sensitive research
Ownership data
When research findings could be used to make social policies which affect peoples lives may be public ally accessible
Cost/ benefit analysis
If the cost outweighs the potential/ actual benefits it is unethical
Alpha bias example
Freuds theory of psychosexual development.
Phallic stage - boys and girls desire their opposite sex parent.
Boy creates strong castration anxiety which is resolved when the boy identifies with their father.
Girls identification with her same-gender parent is weaker - superego = weaker.
Therefore girls = morally inferior.
Beta bias example
Fight or flight response - bio research favoured male animals because female behaviour is affected by regular hormonal changes due to ovulation which ignores any differences.
Research into fight or flight assumed males and females respond to threatening situations with fight or flight.
Taylor et al suggested oxytocin is more plentiful to women and it seemed women respond to stress by increasing oxytocin production. This reduces fight or flight and enhances a preference for tend and befriend.
Androcentrism example
Feminists reject PMS suggesting it medicalises women’s emotions by explains them in hormonal terms. Whereas mens anger is seen as a rational response to external pressure.
