Gender bias

Question 1

What is gender bias

Answer 1

Treating an individual or group differently from each other, in terms of psychology this means not offering a view that represents women.

Question 2

Universality

Answer 2

Where conclusions drawn can be applied to everybody, anywhere, regardless of time culture or differences.

Question 3

Alpha bias

Answer 3

Exaggerating differences between the two sexes, devalues females.

Question 4

Examples of alpha bias

Answer 4

Freud said women develop weaker superego, more liable to immoral behaviour because girls don’t suffer same oedipal conflict as boys so don’t identify as strongly with their mothers as boys do with their fathers.

Question 5

Beta bias

Answer 5

Ignores or minimises differences between two sexes due to men dominating women in the psych industry. Females aren’t included in the research but findings are assumed to be a universal response.

Question 6

Examples of Beta Bias

Answer 6

Fight or flight. Based on male animals and assumed to be a universal response. Taylor says female biology evolved to inhibit fight or flight response and it is the tend and befriend response. Women care for offspring and make defensive networks with other females.

Question 7

Androcentrism

Answer 7

Consequence of beta bias. If normal behaviour is being drawn from research involving only male samples, behaviour that doesn’t conform to this is seen as abnormal. Female behaviour becomes misunderstood and pathologized.

Question 8

Example of androcentrism

Answer 8

Feminist commentators objected premenstrual-syndrome for stereotyping female experience. PMS is claimed to be a social construction and medicalises female emotions like anger whereas anger is seen as rational from men.

Question 9

AO3 - Feminist psychology

Answer 9

Feminists have made criteria that should be stuck to to avoid gender bias in research. This criteria is women should be studied in real life meaningful contexts and add to diversity in groups rather than comparing men and women. Preferable way and less gender bias.

Question 10

AO3 - Now able to challenge gender bias

Answer 10

Now understand gender bias, psychologists have made many solutions. Done this by developing theories that show importance of women like Cornwell who notes females are better at learning, more attentive and organised. Helps reduce gender bias.

Question 11

AO3 - Lack of senior women

Answer 11

Means female concerns may not be reflected in research. Lab experiments, female ps in an inequitable relationship with male researcher who have the power to label them unreasonable. Means psych guilty of supporting institutional sexism that creates bias in theory and research.