Gender and Culture Bias in Psychology

Study Notes

Gender Bias

Gender bias = treating a person in a more/less favourable way because of their gender
Alpha bias: findings exaggerate differences between men and women, often devaluing females
- Example: Freud's theory of psychosexual development portrays women as inferior due to weaker superegos.
Beta bias: misinterprets research underestimating or minimizing differences between men and women.
- Example: Biopsychology often focuses on male subjects, potentially underrepresenting female experiences.

Culture Bias

Culture bias = interpreting behaviours based on own culture, often ignoring differences in gender/culture.
Ethnocentrism: belief one's culture is superior, leading to prejudice against other cultures.
- Example: Ainsworth's research on attachment may be ethnocentric as it did not reflect the values of non-American cultures.
Cultural relativism: understanding behaviours within cultural contexts.
- Example: Hearing voices as a gift in some cultures may be seen as abnormal in others.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Nature (heredity): traits passed down from parents, biological/evolutionary/genetic influences.
Nurture (environment): behaviour shaped by experiences, environment, and events.
Interactionist approach: nature and nurture are intertwined, influencing each other, not separate entities.
- Example: Many psychological approaches today consider the interaction of nature and nurture.

Genes

Many studies show genetic factors influence characteristics.
Genetic concordance rates (similarity in traits) are often higher for monozygotic twins (identical) compared to dizygotic twins (fraternal).
- Example: Monozygotic twins share a nearly identical genetic makeup, and have a higher concordance rate for schizophrenia.

Evolution

Evolutionary theory attempts to explain behaviour as useful for survival.
Attachment theory (Bowlby): infants are biologically predisposed to attach to a primary caregiver, enhancing survival chances.
- Example: Infants attaching to one specific caregiver is a result of survival instincts.

Androcentrism

Androcentrism: male-centered perspective where male behaviour is considered the norm and more acceptable.
- Example: Male anger may be viewed as a rational response to pressures, while female anger may be seen as hormonal.

Free Will vs. Determinism

Free will: belief in individual ability to make choices independent of external factors.
Determinism: belief that behaviour is caused by factors beyond individual control.
- Example: Humanistic approach emphasizes free will is crucial for self-actualization.

Evaluation Points for Free Will

Face validity: concept of free will is intuitively appealing
Research suggests people who perceive control tend to be mentally healthier
Neurological studies suggest brain activity may occur before awareness of choice.

Emic and Etic Approaches

Emic approach: emphasizes unique aspects of a culture
Etic approach: ignores cultural differences, assuming universality of findings across cultures.

Description

This quiz explores the concepts of gender and culture bias in psychological research. It covers alpha bias, beta bias, and cultural relativism, highlighting how these biases can affect understanding and interpreting behaviors. Test your knowledge on the implications of these biases in psychology.