Gender bias

• What is gender bias?

  The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real differences.
• What is alpha bias?

  A tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women, suggesting real and enduring differences.
• What are the consequences of alpha bias?

  Theories may devalue one gender compared to the other, typically devaluing women.
• What are examples of alpha bias in psychology?

  1. Psychodynamic explanations suggest females are less moral than males.
  2. Wilson’s theory claims promiscuous females go against their nature.
  3. Schizophrenia diagnosed more in men due to women's symptoms being masked.
• What is androcentrism?

  The consequence of beta bias where behavior is compared to a 'male' standard, neglecting women.
• How has PMS been criticized in terms of androcentrism?

  PMS is seen as a social construction that trivializes female emotion, particularly anger.
• What is an example of beta bias in research?

  Research on the fight or flight response used only male lab mice, generalizing results to females.
• What is universality in psychological theories?

  The aim to develop theories that apply to all people, regardless of their differences.
• What are the evaluations of gender bias in psychology?

  • Feminist psychology argues for real differences influenced by social stereotypes.
  • Bias in research methods can distort findings.
  • Laboratory experiments may reflect institutionalized sexism.
  • Reverse alpha bias emphasizes women's strengths.
  • Avoiding beta bias can improve women's opportunities.
  • Assumptions about gender need to be challenged.
• What is cultural bias?

  The tendency to judge all cultures based on one's own cultural assumptions.
• What is cultural relativism?

  The view that behavior and morals cannot be judged outside their cultural context.
• How did Milgram's study illustrate cultural relativism?

  It showed different obedience rates in Spanish and Australian participants compared to American participants.
• How can cultural relativism lead to alpha bias?

  It can lead psychologists to overlook universals by assuming real differences exist between cultures.
• How does cultural relativism relate to beta bias in defining mental disorders?

  Behaviors considered abnormal in one culture may be normal in another, leading to misdiagnosis.
• What are examples of alpha and beta bias in cross-cultural research?

  • Alpha bias: Assumption of real differences between individualistic and collectivist cultures.
  • Beta bias: Generalizing findings from one culture to another without considering cultural context.
• What is the distinction between individualistic and collectivist cultures?

  Individualistic cultures value individual needs, while collectivist cultures prioritize group needs.
• What did Takano and Osaka find in their review of studies comparing the US and Japan?

  They found distinctions in conformity between individualistic and collectivist cultures.