Culture bias

• Culture bias?

  The tendency to judge all people in terms of your own cultural assumptions 
• what is Alpha bias?

  - refers to theories the assume there are real and enduring differences between cultural groups 

  Example 14/15 studied did support individualist being less conformist 
• what is beta bias?

  • refers to theories that ignore or minimise cultural differences 

  Example- strange situation
• what is Ethnocentrism? 


  refers to the use of our ethnic or cultural group as a basis for judgements about other groups. There is a tendency to view the beliefs, customs and behaviours of our own group as ‘normal’ or even superior
• How is ethnocentrism an example of alpha and beta? 

  • If your culture is different or better others are devalues  
  • If psychologists believe their world view is the only view 
• what is Cultural relativism?- the view the behaviour cannot be judged properly unless it is viewed in the culture which it originates from