Gender Bias

• Universality 


  Any underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences in experience. Gender and culture bias threaten the universality of findings
• Gender Bias


  Bias is a tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way from others. Psychological research may offer a view that does not justifiably represent the experience of men or women, typically women
• Androcentrism 


  Male-centred view of the world. When 'normal' behaviour is judged according to a male standard. Female behaviour is often judged to be abnormal.
• Alpha bias


  Psychological theories that suggest there are real and enduring differences between men and women. These may exaggerate or undervalue members of either sex typically women.
• Beta bias


  Theories that ignore or minimise differences between the sexes
• Example of Alpha Bias

  • In Freud's Theory of Psychosexual development in the phallic stage children develop a desire for their opposite sex parent
  • Boys develop castration anxiety and eventually identify with their father but girls do not have castration anxiety so as a result have a weaker superego
  • Suggests girls are morally inferior to boys
• Example of Beta Bias

  • Kohlberg's research into moral development
  • His study consisted of men where he gave them moral dilemmas
  • He said that although he used all males his theory applies to men and women
  • When women were tested they were found to be less morally developed which is not the case as more men are offenders
• Beta Bias: Fight or Flight research

  • Biological research has generally favoured using male animals because female behaviour is affected by regular hormonal changes
  • Research that minimises differences may result in misinterpretation of female behaviour
• Androcentrism

  • Alpha and Beta bias are consequences of Androcentrism
  • Out of the 100 most influential psychologists in the 20th century only 6 were women
  • Gender bias has meant autistic women are less diagnosed than men and experience many other mental health disorders but receive less care
• AO3 Gender Bias: Issues with publication bias and stereotypes

  • Bias towards publishing positive results may mean gender differences are presented as fixed and enduring
  • Some gender studies say that girls have better verbal ability whereas boys have better spatial ability
  • These are then seen as facts however brain scan evidence says there are no such differences
  • This may just be enforcing existing stereotypes that women are 'speakers' and boys are 'doers'
• AO3 Gender Bias: Promotes sexism

  • Women are underrepresented in university departments with many roles higher up such as lecturers being males
  • Research is more likely to be conducted by males and may disadvantage females
  • Male researchers may have biases of their own that are then implemented into their research
  • Women are then wrongly represented
• AO3 Gender Bias: Lead to a reflexivity

  • Gender biased research has negative consequences and leads to discrimination for women and damages actual women's lives
  • Modern researchers realise this and do not see bias as a problem but embrace it as part of their research process
  • Some researchers included reflection of their gender related experiences and how this influenced them
• AO3 Gender Bias: Gender differences should be carefully studied

  • One popular stereotype is that women are better as multitasking than men and has been seen to have some biological truth in it
  • A woman's brain may benefit from better connections between the left and right hemisphere than in a man's
  • There may be biological differences but we should be wary of exaggerating them
• Combatting Gender Bias

  • Include an equal amount of men and women PPs
  • Have both female and male researchers
  • Instead of ignoring gender bias embrace as part of your research