Cultural bias. Flashcards
American researchers:
- In 1992, 64% of the world’s 56,000 researchers were American.
- In popular textbooks on social psychology, 94% of studies were conducted in North America.
- Suggests that, as well as being male dominated, psychology is mainly the study of white American males.
- Even though their inquiries have been restricted to certain parts of the world, many psychologists claim to have discovered facts about human behaviour that are universal, but not the case.
What is cultural bias?
- Refers to tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena through ‘lens’ of ones own culture. Any other cultural behaviour that deviates from this standard will inevitably seen as ‘abnormal’, ‘inferior’, or ‘unusual’.
- Many argue that although psychology may claim to have uncovered ‘truths’ that say something about people all over the world - in realty findings from studies only apply to particular groups of people who were studied.
- Psychology mainly ignored culture as important influence on human behaviour by assuming that findings from Western studies can be straightforwardly applied all over the world.
What is ethnocentrism?
- refers to particular form of cultural bias, a belief in superiority of one’s own cultural group.
- In psychological research, this may be communicated through the view that any behaviours which do not conform to are somehow deficient, unsophisticated or undeveloped.
Example of imposed etic.
Ainsworth’s research is an example of imposed etic in psychology. Assuming that US-based model of classifying attachment was the norm - she imposed her own cultural understanding upon the rest of the world.
Ethnocentric intelligence testing.
Brislin (1976) illustrates concepts of ethnocentrism and imposed etic using example of intelligence tests. Demonstrations of intelligence in individualist culture often involve competing tasks ‘against the clock’. Holds Western ideas.
Why might culturally biased intelligence tests lead to ethnic stereotyping and discrimination of particular groups in society?
- Assumption from these tests may be that the differences are due to nature/genetically inherited factors and thus people from different ethnic groups may then be labelled with incorrect stereotype as less intelligent than their white counterparts.
- In 1920s America, results of I tests were interpreted to fit political agendas and effectively ‘sanction’ racist policy, e.g. eugenics-driven policy of restricting immigration.
What is an emic approach?
Focuses from with or inside certain cultures and indentifies behaviours that are specific to that culture.
Cultural relativism.
- Psychologists should be mindful of cultural relativism of their research - ‘things’ they discover may only make sense from perspective of culture within which they were discovered.
- Being able to recognise this is a way of avoiding cultural bias.
Example of culturally relative research.
- Sternberg (1985) - the only way we can understand intelligence is by taking the cultural context into account.
- e.g. motor skills are valued in tribes (shooting bow and arrow) as showing intelligence, but not as valued in a more developed country.
Limitation of cultural bias - universality.
P: It should not be assumed that all Psychology is culturally relative and that there is no such thing as universal human behaviour.
E: Ekman (1989) suggests that the basic facial expressions for
happiness and disgust are the same all over the world.
C: Therefore, this suggests that a full understanding of human
behaviour requires the study of both universal and variations among individuals and group.
Limitation of cultural bias - variables.
P: A limitation with conducting research in different cultures is that the variables under review may not be experienced in the same way in all cultures.
E: E.g. In China, it is normal for people to evade your personal space, whereas in the West, it could be seen as threatening or
confrontational.
C: Issues like these could affect the relationships between the
researcher and the participants in cross cultural studies.
Strength of cultural bias - challenge typical thinking.
P: A great benefit to conducting cross cultural research is that it may help us to challenge our typically Western ways of thinking.
E: E.g. being able to see that some of the knowledge and concepts that we take for granted are not shared by other people around the world may promote a greater sensitivity to cultural relativism.
C: This will also mean theories have more validity if they include recognition of the role of culture in bringing the behaviours about.
Strength of cultural bias - has research changed now?
P: When psychologists have made reference to culture in the past, it has been in reference to ‘individualistic’ (value independence and freedom) versus ‘collectivist’ (value interdependence and the needs of a group) cultures but this divide may no longer exist.
E: Takono and Osaka (1999) found that in 14/15 studies that
compared USA to Japan, no evidence of the traditional distinction between the two was found.
C: Therefore suggests that culture bias is less of an issue now than it once was.
