Issues And Debates Flashcards

Question

What is gender bias?

Answer 1

A type of bias where psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably represent male and female experiences

Answer 2

Alpha and beta bias

Answer 3

Theories that over exaggerate or overestimate differences between sexes- usually undervalues members of either sex but typically female. The problem with this is that is causes misrepresentation

Answer 4

Beta bias tends to underestimate the differences between sexes. This usually occurs when females aren’t part of the research group and then it is assumed that findings can be generalised and apply to both genders

Answer 5

Androcentrism is a consequence of beta bias. A male centred piece of research that uses male standards to define ‘normal behaviour’. This means female behaviour is often seen as abnormal, different or inferior by comparison

Answer 6

At best, this leads to female behaviour being misunderstood and misrepresented (either overestimating/exaggerating or underestimating/minimising gender differences) at worse pathologies (i.e. seen as a sign of psychological instability or disorder). Therefore, it becomes normal for women to feel abnormal. Such research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes and validate discriminatory practices.

Answer 7

It may provide scientific ‘justification’ to deny women opportunities within the workplace or wider society. Androcentrism can allow for stereotypes to form where people beleive women’s behaviour to be abnormal In contrast, male anger is seen as a rational response to external pressures and a normal behavioural response. This could lead to an increase in diagnosis of mental illness. This could also lead to an increase in domestic violence between husbands and wives. Consequently, gender bias in research is not just a methodological problem– it can have damaging consequences which affect the lives and prospects of women in society.

Answer 8

Tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena’s through the lens of ones own culture

Answer 9

A type of cultural bias. It is the use of our own cultural ethnic group to use as a basis for judgements about other groups. There is a belief of superiority within ones own cultural group. We expect cultural differences in behaviours from one society to another, as different norms and values influence the way people think and behave in different places. However, in Psychology, there are areas of research which have ignored or misinterpreted these differences and imposed an understanding based on the study of one culture alone. This is cultural bias.

Answer 10

64% of the world’s 56,000 researchers in psychology are American. In Baron and Byrne’s (1991) textbook on social psychology 94% of the studies referred to were from North America, compared with 2% from Europe, 1% from Australasia, and 3% from the rest of the world.

Answer 11

Implies free will is not possible as out behaviour is always caused by internal or external factors beyond our control. It is compatible with the scientific approach (biological and behaviouristic approaches)

Answer 12

All human behaviours have causes, but behaviour can also be determined by conscious choices. We also have conscious mental control.

Answer 13

the belief that behaviour is caused by biological influences (i.e. physical) that we cannot control e.g. genes, hormones, neuroanatomy, nervous system, evolutionary factors. ( biological approach)

Answer 14

the belief that behaviour is caused by features of the environment and other agents of socialisation (external factors) that are beyond our control e.g. rewards, punishments, associations. (Behaviourism approach)

Answer 15

the belief that behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts (repressed emotions) from our childhoods. (Psychodynamic approach)

Answer 16

Human make choices that are not determined by biological or external forces. Therefore we are self-determining. (Humanism approach)

Answer 17

The scientific approach looks at cause and effect relationships and the ability to make reliable predictions about behaviour. Frustration and aggression is a cause and effect relationship, therefore, treatments or therapies can be developed to help people with aggressive behaviours that stem from frustration. You need determinism to do this. However your also need to account for other factors besides frustration such as environmental, emotional or psychological explanations. Furthermore, science also needs to be falsifiable. This is not possible with Free Will. You can falsify specific aspects of determinism but not the idea as a whole.

Answer 18

Nature debate suggests that human characteristics can be hereditary, determining how genetically determined a behaviour or characteristic is. The nurture debate believes we were born a blank slate and behaviour is a result of experience and learning. The nature nurture debate is not only one or the other, it debates to what extent each factor influences behaviour.

Answer 19

- Gottesmans test of schizophrenia - Bowlby’s monotropic attachment theory- innate tendency to form attachments for survival advantage. Learning explanations of attachment- we learn to form attachments as a result of classical and operant conditioning (associations and reinforcements) - - Psychopathology- biological explanations of OCD e.g. brain structures, biochemistry. Mower’s two- process model of phobias, learning phobias through classical and operant conditioning (associations and reinforcements)

Answer 20

An interactionalist approach

Answer 21

Girls have greater Verbal ability Boys have higher visuals and spsacial ability Boys have higher arithmetical ability Girls are less aggressive e

Issues And Debates Flashcards

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