Gender Bias

• What is the difference between alpha and beta bias?

  Alpha - exaggerates differences

  Beta - Minimizes or ignores differences
• Explain an example of alpha bias

  Freud's Research:

  • psychoanalysis - viewed femininity as failed masculinity
  • argued women were jealous of men who experience the Odipeous complex
  • Women = morally inferior because they have weaker identification with their mothers + since superego develops with odipeous conflict.
• Explain an example of beta bias

  Biological research :

  • Research into fight or flight response
  • used male animals because of too much variation in hormone levels in females (difficulties)
  • assumed all male results would apply to females too
  • Shelley Taylor et al challenged universal assumption - evidence females = tend-and-befriend response to stress - adaptive to ensure survival of offspring
  • ignored possible difference - didn't fully understand stress responses
• What is universality? Give an example

  • theories that apply to all people, regardless of gender or culture
  • Example : attachment - assumed to be same for all regardless of culture - secure attachment universal/common attachment type
• What is androcentrism? Give an example.

  • male-centred
  • 'normal' behaviour judged by male standards
  • Example : females often judged as inferior
  • Kohlberg's study of moral development - females judged as inferior and less moral
• What study provides an example of both alpha and beta bias? Explain how.

  Kohlberg's theory of moral development:

  • suggested that moral decisions we make are based on an ethic of justice.
  • Theory based on research with boys and men
  • asked to describe what behaviour would be right in a given situation (related to fairness)
  • Beta bias : assumed it would be the same for all people.
  • Kohlberg then tested women - found they were less morally developed than men
  • Alpha bias : exaggerated the differences between men and women.
• How is Milgram's study an example of gender bias?

  Beta bias : Ignores possible differences between men and women since all participants were men, it is possible that women will respond differently to the situation and may be more or less obedient. Generalizes results to all individuals and assumes women would show the same results.
• What are the main evaluation points using gender bias?

  1. Beta biases may be a strength but also a limitation of research

  2. androcentrism can be avoided by taking a feminist perspective

  3. Psychological theories are based on gender-bias research using biased methods
• Evaluation of gender bias : Androcentrism can be avoided

  • feminist psychology agrees there are real biologically based sex differences BUT socially determined stereotypes -> perceived differences
  • before social change, must revise 'facts' about gender that perpetuate beliefs about women.
  • one way to redress the balance = use evidence that women may be inferior to provide women with support.
  • example : Eagly (1978) women may = less effective leaders BUT should be used to develop more suitable training programmes.
  • therefore feminist perspective understand behavior -> greater equality
• Evaluation of gender bias : beta biases may be a strength, but also a limitation.

  • Hare-Mustin + Marecek = arguing for equality between men + women draws attention away from women's differences in power.
  • seemingly neutral actions = benefit the more powerful group
  • e.g equal parental leave ignores biological demands of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding -> disadvantaging women
  • suggests we should avoid beta biases to ensure significant differences are taken account of
• Evaluation of gender bias : Psychological theories + studies are gender biased because methods are biased.

  • example : Rosenthal (1966) found male experimenters = more pleasant, friendly + encouraging to female participants.
  • male participants therefore seemed to perform less well on tasks
  • furthermore, feminists argue lab experiments = disadvantage women because findings in controlled environment won't replicate experiences of women outside these settings
  • e.g Eagly + Johnson (1990) noted studies in real settings found men + women = judged more similar in styles of leadership than in labs.