ISSUES ANQ DEBATES:
• Gender blu
• Cultur. bias
• Soolally sensitive research
• Frwe wlll vs Determinism
• N1ture1Nurturw
• Rtduotlonlsm vs Hollsm
• Nomothetto vs ldlographlo
Oendtr bin·
Gender bias = the differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes Instead of real life
differences.
Universality= idea that any conclusions drawn about a characteristic of human beings can be applied to all people.
Gender bias can happen two ways:
Alpha bias: When a theory exaggerates differences between men and women, a consequence Is that a theory wm devalue one
gender In comparison to the other.
E.g. Freud suggests that women have penis envy however homey suggests that males have womb envy.
E.g. Wilson argues that sociobiological theory emphasises double standards, as males who are sexually promiscuous argue
that it is down to their genetics but women who are sexually promiscuous argue that It is going against their 'nature'. (This
suggests essentlallsm which is where gender differences are fixed In nature and are inevitable; however this aeates double
standards).
Beta bias: When a theory minimises or Ignores differences between men and women, a consequence is that theorists will
believe that the results from the studies of men will equally apply to women or it ignores questions about the lives of women.
E. g Taylor argues that the flight or fight response does not account for women as women shift attention into caring which is
known as tending and befriending.
Beta bias within psychology can lead to androcentrlsm; this is where male psychology/ behaviours are viewed as the default I
normal and women are excluded so their behaviours are seen as abnormal.
EVALUATION:
(+) The research into gender bias has led to reflexivity for some research where researchers can avoid gender bias by
admitting that their findings are only for one gender.
(-) Gender bias can create misleading assumptions about female behaviour as it fails to challenge negative stereotypes, as it
also validates discriminatory practices. This can have implications within the workplace and the wider world, as it may provide a
'justification' to deny women jobs / opportunities.
(-)Alack of women appointed at senior research levels means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research
questions asked, male researchers are much more likely to have their work published. In lab experiments the experimenter is
also more likely to be male so they have the power to label female participants as irrational or abnormal.
(-) Gender bias leads to discrimination which reinforces inequality, there is a lack of understanding of the symptoms that women
display which becomes medicalised such as hysteria.
cu1tua: bfas·
WEIRD people are much more likely to be studied by psychologists; westernised, educated, industrialised·, rich, democracies.
There are two types of culture bias;
Alpha bias: when ·a theory assumes there are real differences between cultural groups. E.g. assuming individualistic cultures
are less conformist.
Beta bias: when a theory ignores or minimises cultural differences by assuming that all people are the same. E.g. western lq
tests.
Cultural bias is a tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all behaviour in the lens of one's own culture, and label
any behaviour that deviates from their culture as abnormal. This means that the behaviour of others cultures are
misrepresented.
Imposed ■tic: is an example of culture bias as it can lead to ethnocentrism, this is a perspecti~ where the behaviours of a
certain culture are seen as normal and any behaviour that deviates is seen as abnormal. Milgram, Asch and Ainsworth's studies
demonstrate ethnocentrism. As they ignore cultural differences and view behaviour through their own culture. Asch used all MC
white American males, Milgram used all American males, Ainsworth used all American women. (Aisnworth had imposed etic as
she assumed that her research was true everywhere and not just the culture she was studying).
Cultural relativism: is the idea that norms and values can only be properly understood in the culture it originates in, this way
cultural bias can be avoided.
EVALUATION:
• Gender blu
• Cultur. bias
• Soolally sensitive research
• Frwe wlll vs Determinism
• N1ture1Nurturw
• Rtduotlonlsm vs Hollsm
• Nomothetto vs ldlographlo
Oendtr bin·
Gender bias = the differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes Instead of real life
differences.
Universality= idea that any conclusions drawn about a characteristic of human beings can be applied to all people.
Gender bias can happen two ways:
Alpha bias: When a theory exaggerates differences between men and women, a consequence Is that a theory wm devalue one
gender In comparison to the other.
E.g. Freud suggests that women have penis envy however homey suggests that males have womb envy.
E.g. Wilson argues that sociobiological theory emphasises double standards, as males who are sexually promiscuous argue
that it is down to their genetics but women who are sexually promiscuous argue that It is going against their 'nature'. (This
suggests essentlallsm which is where gender differences are fixed In nature and are inevitable; however this aeates double
standards).
Beta bias: When a theory minimises or Ignores differences between men and women, a consequence is that theorists will
believe that the results from the studies of men will equally apply to women or it ignores questions about the lives of women.
E. g Taylor argues that the flight or fight response does not account for women as women shift attention into caring which is
known as tending and befriending.
Beta bias within psychology can lead to androcentrlsm; this is where male psychology/ behaviours are viewed as the default I
normal and women are excluded so their behaviours are seen as abnormal.
EVALUATION:
(+) The research into gender bias has led to reflexivity for some research where researchers can avoid gender bias by
admitting that their findings are only for one gender.
(-) Gender bias can create misleading assumptions about female behaviour as it fails to challenge negative stereotypes, as it
also validates discriminatory practices. This can have implications within the workplace and the wider world, as it may provide a
'justification' to deny women jobs / opportunities.
(-)Alack of women appointed at senior research levels means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research
questions asked, male researchers are much more likely to have their work published. In lab experiments the experimenter is
also more likely to be male so they have the power to label female participants as irrational or abnormal.
(-) Gender bias leads to discrimination which reinforces inequality, there is a lack of understanding of the symptoms that women
display which becomes medicalised such as hysteria.
cu1tua: bfas·
WEIRD people are much more likely to be studied by psychologists; westernised, educated, industrialised·, rich, democracies.
There are two types of culture bias;
Alpha bias: when ·a theory assumes there are real differences between cultural groups. E.g. assuming individualistic cultures
are less conformist.
Beta bias: when a theory ignores or minimises cultural differences by assuming that all people are the same. E.g. western lq
tests.
Cultural bias is a tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all behaviour in the lens of one's own culture, and label
any behaviour that deviates from their culture as abnormal. This means that the behaviour of others cultures are
misrepresented.
Imposed ■tic: is an example of culture bias as it can lead to ethnocentrism, this is a perspecti~ where the behaviours of a
certain culture are seen as normal and any behaviour that deviates is seen as abnormal. Milgram, Asch and Ainsworth's studies
demonstrate ethnocentrism. As they ignore cultural differences and view behaviour through their own culture. Asch used all MC
white American males, Milgram used all American males, Ainsworth used all American women. (Aisnworth had imposed etic as
she assumed that her research was true everywhere and not just the culture she was studying).
Cultural relativism: is the idea that norms and values can only be properly understood in the culture it originates in, this way
cultural bias can be avoided.
EVALUATION:
