Culture Bias

• Culture Bias 


  A tendency to interpret all phenomena through the ‘lens’ of one’s own culture, ignoring the effects that cultural differences might have on behavior.
• Ethnocentrisim

  Judging other cultures by the standards and values of one’s own culture.

  In its extreme form – the belief in the superiority of one’s own culture, which may lead to prejudice and discrimination towards other cultures.
• An example of Ethnocentrism:

  Ainsworth & Bell’s (1970) strange situation - criticised as only reflecting the norms and values of ‘western’ culture.

  E.g. - Japanese children likely to be classed as insecurely attached due to severe separation anxiety, but it is common for those babies to be rarely away from mum.
• How can we avoid Ethnocentrism?


  Indigenous researcher - researcher from that culture

  Indigenous Psychologies – By developing different groups of theories in different countries.
• Cultural Relativism


  The idea that norms and values, as well as ethics and moral standards, can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural context.
• Emic Construct


  specific to a given culture and vary from one culture to another (culturally specific) includes looking at bhv from the inside of the cultural systems
• Etic Construct


  theoretical ideas that are assumed to apply in all cultural groups (tries to be universal). They are considered universal to all people and are factors held across all cultures (Similarities between cultures)
• What is an example of an 'Imposed Etic'?


  Ainsworth & Bell’s research - As they studied behavior in one culture (America) and then assumed the ‘ideal’ attachment type (and method for assessing it) could be applied universally
• Ethnocentric Example - DSM (Depression) 

  • Cross-cultural research in psychology shows that there are substantial variations in depressive experience and disorder.
  • For example, in some cultures, depression may be experienced largely in somatic terms (affecting the body) rather than with sadness or guilt.
  • E.g. Complaints of nerves and headaches (in Latino and Mediterranean cultures)
  • of weakness, tiredness, or imbalance (in Chinese and Asian cultures)
  • and problems of the "heart" (in Middle Eastern cultures) may express depressive experiences.
• Ethnocentric Example - Milgram

  • He tested using American males, Milgram found that 65% of ppts, although unwilling, administered a full scale electric-shocks (up to 450V)
  • There may be many factors, specific to America, which may have resulted in such findings,
  • E.g. Americans may be have more respect for authority figures as they value the police system,
  • or, they may be more obedient due to American schooling and so on.
• The Emic-Etic distinction:

  Emic approach is one that emphasises the distinction of uniqueness in every culture, problem with this is that findings are only significant for that culture.

  The “Etic” approach seeks universal aspects of behaviour - one way to do this whilst still avoiding cultural bias is to use indigenous researchers in each cultural setting.
• How can Alpha bias link to 'Cultural Relativism'?


  Cultural relativism can lead to an alpha bias, where the assumption of real differences lead psychologists to overlook universals.
• How can Beta Bias link to 'Cultural Relativism'?

  Cultural relativism is often discussed in the context of defining mental disorder. Behaviours that are statistically infrequent in one culture may be more frequent in another, i.e. schizophrenia is claiming to hear voices but this experience is more common in African cultures, where hearing voices is a sign of spirituality and so individuals are more likely to openly report these experiences to their psychiatrist. By assuming the same rules universally we may diagnose some people as mentally ill but relative to the culture they may not be.