Gender Bias

• Universality and bias

   Psychology attempts to conduct research that is objective and value-free

  However,psychologists possess beliefs and values that are influenced by the social and historical contexts they live in

  This may then influence their research,findings and conclusions

  This can undermine the universality of the research(it being applied to all human beings)
• Gender bias:The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real differences.
• Alpha bias

  Is when the differences between men and women are shown and may be exaggerated;either to heighten the value of women or devalue them.These differences are presented as real and enduring,fixed and inevitable.
• Alpha bias 

  Example:sociobiological theory 

  It believes that its in a male's interest to try and impregnate as many women as possible,will guarantee genes are passed on.For females to pass genes on they have to ensure the survival/health of offspring

  Sexual promiscuity in males is genetically predetermined,while women who engage in similar activity are seen as going against their nature
• Beta bias

  Differences between two sexes ignored often occurs when females aren’t included as part of research and then it is assumed findings apply to both sexes equally
• Beta bias

  Example:Fight or Flight response

  Early research was based exclusively on male animals and it was assumed to be a universal response

  Female biology - caring for offspring and forming defensive networks with other females (Taylor) rather than fight or flight.
• Beta bias

  Example:Kohlberg

  Stage theory of moral development based entirely on a longitudinal study of American men.

  Though he argued findings were universal and represented moral reasoning for both.
• Androcentrism (institution sexism)

  Most senior psychologists are men,so see the world from a male perspective,means male behaviour is the norm and if women differ they are seen as deviant

  If our understanding of ‘normal’ behaviour is being drawn from research that involves ‘all male’ samples, then behaviour that deviates from this is also seen as ‘abnormal’ by comparison.            

  Meaning that female behaviour is misunderstood and under-represented.
• Androcentrism

  Example:As girls don’t experience castration anxiety,not under the same pressure to identify with same-sex parent.

  So sense of morality is inferior to males,femininity is an expression of failed masculinity.

  Vanity - a defence mechanism to make for sexual inferiority to men

  Example:leadership

  Research found women make worse leaders than men

  More recent research has shown that women have a different leadership style.
• A03 Implications of gender bias

  Gender biassed research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour,fail to challenge negative stereotypes and validate discriminatory practices. It may provide a scientific ‘justification’ to deny women opportunities both in the workplace and society - Tavris,it becomes ‘normal’ for women to feel abnormal.

  It may therefore have lasting and damaging consequences for real women.
• A03 Sexism gender bias

  Lack of women at senior level in research means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked.

  Lab experiments have female participants and male researchers,Nicholson - this creates an inequitable relationship with male researchers where they could be labelled. Denmark et al - psychology is institutionally sexist and creates bias in theory and research.
• A03 Reflexivity gender bias

  Modern researchers are beginning to recognise the effect their own values and assumptions have on the nature of their work.

  Dambrin and Lambert (2008) - rather than see bias as a problem they reflected on their own gender-related experiences in their research, so that they could be aware of and take account of,their own biases ie Reflexivity
• Issues and debates essay structure

  1)Introduction - brief sentence what it is

  2)Pick an aspect (androcentrism) and define

  3)Topic link - example of theory/study -Social influence research

  4)Justify why its androcentric

  Repeat for alpha and beta bias

  2 PEEL's

  either showing it is an issue

  or

  proposal for resolution