Issues And Debates Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is Gender bias ?
Differential treatment of men and women based on stereotypes rather then real Differences then research may be carried out based in favour of a particular gender
What is androcentrism ?
Male centred, taking male thinking as normal therefore female Behaviour deemed abnormal by comparison
Gynocentric ?
Study on females but generalised also to males
Alpha bias?
Exaggerating differences between men and women e. My F suggesting women have penile envy
Beta bias ?
Ignoring/ minimising differences between men and women
Universality ?
Theories applying to all pepper regardless of gender and culture
Example of beta bias ?
- Kholberg gave boys and men number of moral dilemmas and developed stages of his moral development
Assumed moral behaviour was similar between sexes, later repeated study with men and women and found gender difference
Consequences of gender bias ?
If understanding moral behaviour is drawn from research only involving male samples then other sex behaviour will seem abnormal by comparison =
Female behaviour misunderstood
- scientifically misleading
- upholds stereotypical assumption about women
- provides scientific justification for gender discrimination e.g denying women work opportunities
Sexism within research process ?
Institutional sexism
- more men work at senior level so research agenda follows male concerns
- more male researchers have research published
Procedure in research studies
- say research scurried out needs addressing
- women often studied by male researcher in lab (unequal power relationship)
How to counter androcentrism ?
Take feminist approach (research women concerns
Challenge old assumptions made in theories e.g Darwin’s theory of sexual selection and women being coy and men being aggressive
What is cultural bias ?
Tendency to ignore cultural differences me interpret all phenomena through lens of ones own culture (studies become culturally jailed when generalised to another culture)
What’s the problem with cultural bias in psychology ?
It’s predominantly white middle class
Ethnocentrism ?
Judging other cultures by tankard of one own culture which leads to devaluing other cultures e.g ainsworths strange situation
Cultural beta bias example ?
IQ tests in America include assumptions about what makes intellegence
Western cultures base intelligence on speed
But collectivist cultures such as Uganda speed of thought is considered rash and thoughtlessness
E.g
US army IQ tests used before WW1 showed African Americans had the lowest IQ which lead to stereotypes concerning ethnic groups and their IQ and sterling son of feeble minded in 20’s and 30’s
What is cultural relativism ?
Everything only meaningful in its cultural context, behaviours can’t be properly judged unless viewed in context of culture in which it originates e.g Sz and hearing voices
Issue of collectivist and individualist cultures ?
Destination as to attempt to view behaviour in its cultural context but some studies have shown we shouldn’t run he risk of exaggerating difference(alpha bias)
Critics argue our globalised world makes cultural differences no longer applicable and Osaka and Takano found 14/15 studies were no evidence of differences in conformity between individualist and collectivist cultures
How to we counter ethnocentrism ?
Use indigenous psychologies
Afrocentrism
- movement that believe all black peppercorns have roots in Africa so psychologies concerning such people should be African centred and express African values, allows us to look for universals in behaviour and avoid cultural bias
Worldwide psychological society
- researchers today travel more and have and increase understanding of other cultures which allows for greater exchange of ideas which should reduce ethnocentrism
Free will ?
Notion humans can make choices about their behaviours and aren’t determined by biological or external forces, we are therefore self determining but this doesn’t reject other factors play a role
Determinism ?
Behaviour is shaped by external or internal forces we have no control over there are 2 forms and 3 types
2 forms of determinism ?
Hard determinism
= all behaviour has a cause so can be predicted, type of determinism comparable with the aims of science
Soft determinism
= element of free will limited by cognitive mental abilities but still have some element of
Free will over our thoughts and actions
3 types of determinism
Biological- traits governed by hormones and evolution
Psychic- childhood experiences
Environmental - how were treated
What did Lindy do for determinism ?
Measured brain activity in patients via electrodes
- asked pps to perform hand movement whenever they felt like it
- found evidence of brain activity initiating movement hundred of milliseconds before conscious decision was reported some believe this is evidence of free will
Evaluate for and against determinism ?
For
- consistent with aims of science
- find causes for general laws and put psychology in more equal footing with established sciences
Research based on deterministic beliefs has lead to prediction and control of behaviours
- e.g treatments such as drugs have been developed as a result of being able to show cause and effect in relationships
Against
- hard determinism challenges legal system
- i.e individual choice is not he cause of the behaviour and the legal system is based on personal responsibility
Total determinism is unrealistic, Denny’s argues even in physical sciences its accepted that total determinism doesn’t exist may be appropriated or animal but not complex human behaviour
For and against free will ?
For ?
- has face validity
Most say they excersise free will in everyday choices
Believing in free will has positive impact on our wellbeing
- study shows teenagers with strong beliefs in fatalism were at greater risk of depression
Against
Illusion of free will
- being able to decide differences between courses of actions isn’t free will
But may give the illusion
Libets research
