Issues And Debates Flashcards
Gender and culture bias
Bias- when psychologists pre existing beliefs and viewpoints influences theories and data interpretation stems from personal expieeneces, cultural backgrounds, education, political beliefs etc
- gender bias- researchers stereotypical views about male and female affect theoretical assumptions, leads to interpretations
- culture bias - intrerprating and judging human behaviour based on cultural norms and experiences, stems from ethnocentric perspective where research view their culture as superior or standard against which your cultures are evaluated leading to misinterpretation
Universality- certain observed behaviour applies to all humans regardless of differences in gender, biology, or cultural background
Gender bias in psychology
- androcentrism- reflects and supports male centered view of the worl usually because theories developed by men.
Alpha bias- assumption significant differences in behaviour between genders leading to overemphasis or exaggeration of differences
Gender bias research - alpha bias
-bowlbys Monotropic Theories which emphasises the mothers role is crucial in infants development more than fathers role, perspective influenced by 1950s social norms Britain where women were less likely to be independent and financially stable and child rearing less shared between parents, may have lead to lead male single parents or Single gender families to feel inadequate believing cannot provide same level of care as traditional family structures
- evolutionary theory of relationships- argues males with potential to gather many children innately promiscuous, uncertain of paternity seeking to impregnate multiple women to increase genetic legacy, also possessive to prevent partners from bearing children with others. Female can have limited number of children, certain of maternity so seeks men with resources to support child rearing. Theory reinforces gender double standard, normalising and legitimising male promiscuity. Contributes to unequal societal attitudes between m & f sexuality
Beta bias and research
- assumption there are no significant differences in behaviour of males and females leading to underestimating or minimising behavioural differences
- social influence- milgrams study including 40 male pp’s and focused only on obediance to male authority figures overlooking potential differences in response to female authority figures
- asch comformity study conducted with only male pps, use of male samples in studies ignored possibility of gender specific differences and influenced by societal norms and belief males yield a more generalisable results
- fight or flight response- automatic reaction to threat based on male survival strategies, research supporting fight or flight theory predominantly involves human male pp’s or male amimals e.g rats. Taylor’s fight or running from threat not effective survival strategy for females instead ‘tend and befriend.’ Tend = maximising survival of both mother and children e.g keeping children safe to avoid detection. ‘Befriend’ building social connections that can provide support in emergency situations. Perspective challenges traditional male centric view of fight or flight response
Culture bias
- human behaviour interpretated and judged using one’s own cultural experiences and norms, can lead to skewed perceptions and understandings on behaviours outside cultural context
- henrich found in majot psychology journals, 68% from US, 96% sweaters industrialised nations. When tests developed in and for western cultures used in different cultural contexts, cultural biases can influence diagnoses and understanding of disorders, potentially leading to misinterpretations and inaccuracies in psychological assessment and treatment
Cultural bias and studies
- In UK and West Indies, schizophrenia about 1% however individuals from West Indies living in UK have significantly higher diagnoses rate and 9x more likely to be diagnosed schizophrenia. fernando suggests discrepancy due to category failure where western definitions of mental health in appropriately applied to non western populations e,g hearing voices of angels may be normal religious experience in West Indies but considered auditory hallucinations in UK
Ethnocentrism
- when research think own culture or ethnic group superior and use it as standard for evaluating other cultures, as seen as ‘correct and normal’ leads to challenging in understanding or accepting cultural practises different from their own
- Mary ainsworth strange situation - developed within American context means may not accurately assess child rearing practises and values in other cultures. Secure attachment most desirable outcome In strange situation and most common in western, individualistic societies , 75% in British sample, example of imposed etic where researchers cultural norms assumed to be applicable as standard for all cultures,
Different cultural norms can influences infants behaviour in assessment, labelling behaviour insecure based on western standard is ethnocentric. German more likely labelled as insecure avoidant, Japan insecure resistant
Cultural relativism-
Principle human behaviour should be understood within context of specific culture where it occurs, takes into account cultures norms, belief and values. Acknowledges behaviour deemed as normal, abnormal may be perceived differently in another
Dealing with bias in psychology
- use diverse samples, instead of assuming research findings from single culture are universally applicable, cross cultural research or comparisons across multiple cultures should be conducted e,g Van Ijizendoorn meta analysis strange situation comparing findings across cultural contexts
- reflective approach - research actively reflecting on beliefs, values and experiences, self awareness crucial for recognising how personal factors might influence research, identifying stereotypes affecting interpretation of pp behaviour . By being reflective, researchers can reduce biases, enhance validity of findings
- not assume universal norms or differences across cultures or sexes, any claims of universality or differences should be supported by empirical data
Scientific emphasis on casual explanations
- science relies on understanding cause and effect relationships to explain phenomena and make predictions
- causal explanations validated though scientific method involving formulating and testing hypothesis under controlled conditions. In experiments, IV altered while other variables held constant allowing for measurements of changes in DV
- if experiment rigorously controlled and produces consistent and significant differences in DV across experimental conditions. Researcher discovers cause and effect relationship
Hard and soft Determinism
Hard determinism - personality traits and behaviour set by forces outside of control , no role for free will
Soft determinism -traits and behaviours to an extent dictated by internal and external forces however some level of control over behaviour through conscious thought processes
Free will- individuals consciously device behaviour without deterministic constraints
Determinism
Behaviourists and SLT
Environmental determinism- experiences in world shape our behaviour, have learnt to behave in specific ways based on factors e,g reinforcement and growing in certain culture
Behaviourist considered hard environmental determinists as do not include conscious thought processes in their theories. Behaviour explained as stimulus responses
Social learning theorists- environmental determinists, behaviour learnt vicariously (from experience) however acknowledges cognitive internal ,metal processes mediating between stimulus and response. Soft deterministic
Determinism
Cognitive, biological, psychodynamic
- cognitive psychology- considered soft determinist. Accepts influence of biological factors on human behaviour however believe significant role for cognitive processes involving choice and decision making. E.g CBT shows how changing thought patterns can alter emotional responses and behaviours
- biological deterministic- behaviour set by genetics and biological processes e,g hormone levels, neurotransmitters and brain structures, e,g biological psychologist use drug treatment directly influencing functioning of biological processes in treatment of mental health disorders
Psychic determinism- psychodynamic . Freud beloved innate drives shaped by childhood experiences for, unconscious forces determining behaviour e,g conflicts with id, ego superego, fixations firing psychosexual development stages and defence mechanism used by unconscious mind. Thought to be soft deterministic as through psychoanalytic therapy individuals become aware of unconscious motivations and gain conscious control over behaviours
Free will
- humanistic perspective
- reject determinism
- humans have agency, capable of making free choices and responsible for choices. Human theories focus on human capacity for self actualisation
Free will and determinism discussion
- by assuming scientific principle of cause and effect applies to human behaviour, psychologists have successfully predicted and influenced behaviour. Approach is valuable as seen as biological determinism where symptoms of mental illness linked to neurotransmitter imbalances leading to development of drug treatment to correct imbalances. Treatment have helped millions of individuals by reducing symptoms, allowing to lead normal lives, return to work, contribute to economy
- eeg research by Liberty 1983 showed readiness potential appeared to make decision less than a second engorge awareness of conscious decision . Suggests conscious choices we experience is illusion
- free will perspective has face validity, people have conscious experience of agency and ability to decide. However determinists say its illusion
