Issues and Debates Flashcards
(73 cards)
Define Gender Bias
Gender Bias is the differential treatment or representation of males and females based stereotypes and not real difference.
What is Universality?
Gender Bias is the differential treatment or representation of males and females based stereotypes and not real difference.
Talk about universality and gender bias
Gender bias threatens the uniersality of findings in psychology.
Psychologists have beliefs shaped by social and historiccal context which can lead to bias over gender undermining the universality of psychology as findings may not apply to all genders and people accross time.
What is alpha bias and give an example?
Alpha Bias- Theories which exaggerate the difference between males and females often devaluing females:
Freud- argued that there are genuine psychological differences between men and women saying women are inferior to men as young girls and suffer from penis envy and femininity as a failed form of masculinity.
What is beta bias and give an example?
Beta Bias- Theories which ignore or minimize sex differences. They often assume that the findings from males can apply equally to females
Fight or Flight- response is often carried by men, but it was assumed this wouldn’t be a problem as it’s the same for both sex’s
However, Taylor et al found females adopt a tend and befrend response to protect offspring and form alliances with other women.
What is andocentrism
Androcentrism occurs when research based on all male samples defines what is ‘normal’, making female behaviour seem abnormal inferior or deficient This an lead to misunderstanding female behaviour
Give an example of androcentrism. (PMS)
Pre-menstural Syndrome (PMS)- feminist critics argue it stereotypes and medicalizes female emotions, especially anger, while male anger is overlooked as a rational response to external preassure.
What is the Implications of gender bias research? (Ao3)
Implications of Gender Bias- Gender bias can create misleading assumptions about female behaviour reinforcing negative stereotypes. It can provide scientific justification for limiting womens opportunities in areas like employment. Psychologists argue that when men set the standard for normalcy, women may feel abnormal by comparison. This bias has real world consequences such as higher diagnosis rates of drepression in women.
Talk about sexism within research. (Ao3 gender bias)
Sexism within Research- A lack of female representation at senior research levels means that womens concerns may be overlooked in research questions. Male researchers are ,ore lilely to have their work published- experiments show that male researchers are more likely to be nicer to females. This suggests that psychology may support sexim leading to biased theories.
→ investigator effects
→ lowers validity
Talk about reflexivity in gender bias research (Ao3)
Reflexivity- This is when researchers reflect on their own biases and how they work. Rather than seeing bias as a threat to objectivity, modern researchers see it as a crucial aspect of the research process. For example, Lambert reflected on how gender- related experiences shaped their study on the lack of women in executive roles, this promotes greater awarness helping balamce arguments.
Talk about Asch as an example of beta bias
Asch- lacks population validity, asch’s sample consisted of 123 male college students from America- biased. Asch assumed that the results of his research would apply to females, beta bias, where a psychologist minimizes the difference between males and females which assumes males and females are alike leading to an andocentric view. This means we are unable to generalise that women would’ve conformed in the same way,
Define Culture Bias
This is the tendacny to interpret and judge behaviour in terms of the values and beliefs of your own society and culture which leads to views about behaviour without actually experiencing them.
Talk about contextual facts of culture bias
In 1992, 64% of the worlds psychologists were from USA with 94% of studies being conducted in North America. This suggests psychology has historically been dominated by white Americans, yet many psychologists claim that their findings apply universally.
Talk about universality in the context of culture bias
As stated, findings are based on Western samples and may not apply globally. Critics argue that mainstream psychology ignores cultural influences assuming western findings are universally valid. For example, social influence studies like Asch and Milgram produce different results when carried out cross culturally. Defining normal behaviour from a single cultural perspective can lead to other behaviours being seen as abnormal.
What is ethnocentrism?
This is when you judge other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture. In this extreme form it is believed that your own culture is superior and can lead to discrimination against other cultures.
In psychology, this can lead to non-western behaviours being seen as difficent
Give an example of ethnocentric research
Ainsworth, Strange Situation- defined secure attachment as moderate distress upon seperation, based on American norms. This led to individualistic cultures like Germany’s parenting styles being misinterpreted as rejecting and cold rather than promoting independence.
What is cultural relativism?
This is the idea that behaviour can only be understood in the context of the norms and values of the society and the culture it occurs. This rejects the beliefs of universality.
What’s the difference between an etic approach and the emic approach?
Etic Approach- identifying universal behaviours from outside a culture
Emic Approach- Studying behaviours specific to a culture
What is Imposed etic?
This is when psychologists may apply culturally specific models universally.
Talk about culture bias in research
In Research- Cultural bias in research can lead to negative consequences. A key example is the US army IQ tests before WWI, which falsely suggested that the European immigrants and African Americans had lower intelligence than white Americans had lowe IQ’s than white Americans. These results reinforce racial stereotypes and discrimination, potentially limiting job opportunities. This shows that cultural bias can have harmful real- world effects
Talk about practical advancements in culture bias
Practical Advancements- Recognising cultural bias has improved our understanding of cultural differences, particularly in diagnosing mental illnesses. Previously, culture specific behaviours were misinterpreted as symptoms of psychological disorders. Now, diagnostic manuals like the DSM include culture- specific behaviours leading to more accurate diagnosis and reducing discrimination.
Talk about the potential outdated nature of culture bias
Outdated Potentially- Traditionally, Western cultures are seen as individualistic while Eastern cultures were classified as collectivist. However, modern repeats of studies showed that 14 out of 15 studies no longer applied to these characteristics.This could be due to global interconnectedness.
Talk about how research is becoming less culturally bias. (AO3)
Modern researchers travel more and engane in more international conferences increasing the exposure to different cultures. The cross- cultural exchange allows psychologists to identify correct methological flaws that may cause culture bias- psychological research is becoming more inclusive and representitive.
What is determinism?
This is the view that an individuals behaviour is shaped by external forces rather than an individuals will to do something. It rejects gree will and says behaviour is governed by internal or external forces where we have no control.
