Issues And Debates: Gender Bias

Question 1

What is universality

Answer 1

• any underlying characteristic or human beings that is capable of being applied to all
• gender bias and culture bias threaten the universality of findings in psychology

Question 2

What are the two types of gender bias

Answer 2

Alpha bias and beta bias

Question 3

What is alpha bias

Answer 3

• bias which exaggerates or overestimates differences between the sexes
• these differences are typically real or enduring, fixed
• sometimes these differences heighten the value of women but they mostly devalue females
• example of alpha bias: sociobiological theory of relationship formation - explains human sexual attraction and behaviour through the principle of ‘survival efficiency’

Question 4

What is beta bias

Answer 4

• beta bias ignores, minimises or underestimates differences between men and women
• occurs when female participants are not included as part of the research process and it is then assumed that research findings apply equally to both sexes
• one example of beta bias: the fight or flight response, research conducted mostly on male animals + was assumed to be a universal response

Question 5

What is andocentrism

Answer 5

• a possible consequence of beta bias - when ‘normal behaviour’ is judged according to a male standard (meaning female behaviour is often judged to be ‘abnormal’ by comparison)
• e.g. many feminist commentators have objected to the diagnosis of ‘pre menstrual syndrome’ which medicalises female emotions, especially anger, explaining these in hormonal terms

Question 6

What are the three evaluation points for gender bias in psychology

Answer 6

• implications of gender bias
• sexism within the research process
• reflexivity

Question 7

Outline ‘implications of gender bias’ as an evaluation point for gender bias in psychology

Answer 7

• gender bias research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, fail to challenge negative stereotypes
• it may provide a scientific ‘justification’ to deny women’s opportunities within the workplace or wider society
• tavris ‘ ‘it becomes normal for women to feel abnormal’

Question 8

Outline ‘sexism within the research process’ as an evaluation point for gender bias in psychology

Answer 8

• a lack of women appointed at senior level research means female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked
• also use of the laboratory experimental method, may further disadvantage women. Female ppts are placed in an equitable relationship with a (usually male) researcher who has the power to label them ‘unreasonable’

Question 9

Outline ‘reflexivity’ as an evaluation point for gender bias in psychology

Answer 9

• modern researchers recognise effect their own values and assumptions have on the nature of their work
• rather than seeing bias as an issue, they embrace it as a critical aspect of the resrearch process in general
• e.g. in a study on the lack of women in executives positions in accountancy firms, dambrin + lambert include reflection on how their gender related experiences influence their reading of such events