Gender and Culture

Question 1

what is universality

Answer 1

the idea that a theory can apply to all people, irrespective of gender and culture

Question 2

what is bias

Answer 2

a tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way to others - creating distortion

Question 3

what is gender bias

Answer 3

where views do not justifiably represent the experience of men or women - treatment based on stereotypes rather than reality

Question 4

what is androcentrism

Answer 4

centered focus on men to the extent of neglection/exclusion of women

Question 5

why is psychology androcentric

Answer 5

most psychologists = men, theories they produce based on male world view

Question 6

what two types of bias does androcentrism cause

Answer 6

alpha bias
beta bias

Question 7

what is alpha bias in reference to gender

Answer 7

theories that overexaggerate/overestimate differences between the sexes

Question 8

what is beta bias in reference to gender

Answer 8

theories that ignore, minimise or underestimate differences between the sexes

Question 9

what are the positive effects of eradicating gender differences

Answer 9

would resolve the gender bias issue

Question 10

what are the negative effects of eradicating gender differences

Answer 10

would itself be a type of beta bias

Question 11

how can the biological approach be an example of alpha bias

Answer 11

behaviour can be explained by neurochemical/hormonal processes - more women diagnosed w depression, can be explained by different hormone levels

Question 12

why is the biological approach an example of alpha bias

Answer 12

• exaggerating differences
• men superior for less depression
• rs between hormones and behaviour can be abused against women

Question 13

how can the psychodynamic theory be an example of alpha bias

Answer 13

oedipus vs electra complex, boys have stronger sense of morality than girls because the conflict is greater

Question 14

why is the psychodynamic theory an example of alpha bias

Answer 14

overexaggerating differences
suggests girls have a weaker identity

Question 15

how can milgram’s study be an example of beta bias

Answer 15

used male participants but his conclusions generalised his findings to all

Question 16

why is milgram’s study an example of beta bias

Answer 16

applying male findings to women assumes there are no differences between the sexes

Question 17

generally, what are the implications of gender and cultural biases

Answer 17

stereotypes

Question 18

what is culture

Answer 18

the ideas, customs and social behaviour of particular people or societies

Question 19

what is universality in reference to culture

Answer 19

the assumption that research findings will generalise globally

Question 20

what is western bias

Answer 20

when most theories and techniques have a basis in a western world view

Question 21

why is there a western bias in psychology

Answer 21

most psychologists trained in the west, participants from western cultures

Question 22

what were Rosenzweig’s findings in regard to western bias

Answer 22

64% of the world’s 56,000 psychology researchers are american

Question 23

what is cultural bias

Answer 23

a tendency to ignore cultural difference and interpret all situations through the perspective of one’s own culture

Question 24

what is ethnocentrism

Answer 24

the use of our own ethnic or cultural groups as a basis for judgements about others - emphasising importance of own culture

Question 25

what types of bias does ethnocentrism lead to

Answer 25

alpha or beta bias

Question 26

how does ethnocentrism lead to discrimination

Answer 26

we view the behaviours of other cultures that don't align with our own as abnormal

Question 27

what is alpha bias in reference to culture

Answer 27

theories assume there are real and enduring differences between cultural groups

Question 28

what is beta bias in reference to culture

Answer 28

theories that ignore or minimise cultural differences

Question 29

what are etic and emic types of

Answer 29

approaches

Question 30

what is an etic approach

Answer 30

one that looks at behaviours from outside of a given culture and attempts to describe behaviours that are universal

Question 31

what is an emic approach

Answer 31

one that looks within/inside cultures to identify behaviours specific to that culture

Question 32

how can the issue of an imposed etic be minimised

Answer 32

using cultural relativism

Question 33

what is cultural relativism

Answer 33

the idea that the things observed in research may only make sense from the perspective of the culture being observed - findings can't be applied to different cultures - appreciating differences

Question 34

how can cultural relativism lead to alpha bias

Answer 34

the assumption of real differences can lead psychologists to overlook universals

Question 35

what is the problem with cultural relativism

Answer 35

can lead to alpha bias

Question 36

why is margaret mead's research an example of alpha bias

Answer 36

initially concluded significant differences (alpha) - (fixed by) then realised there are some universals due to biology

Question 37

how can the gender topic prodvide an example of alpha bias

Answer 37

margaret mead's research - concluded significant differences between gender in cultures

Question 38

how can the schizophrenia topic provide an example of beta bias

Answer 38

using statistical infrequency in reference to symptoms (hearing voices) to diagnose

Question 39

why is the schizophrena topic an example of beta bias

Answer 39

assumes the same rules (statistical infrequency) apply globally - but some cultures hearing voices is common and a good thing

Question 40

how is Ainsworth's observation an example of imposed etic

Answer 40

Japanese children were judged as resistant due to seperation anxiety but in their culture this is expected because rarely alone

Question 41

why is Ainsworth's observation an example of imposed etic

Answer 41

judgement of attachment was based on child rearing in the US leading to misinterpretation of Japanese attachment styles