Gender bias

• Gender bias

  – The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real difference.
• Alpha bias

  – Tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women, suggesting that there are real differences between the two sexes

  -Consequence: devalue one gender in comparison to the other, but typically devalue women.
• Beta Bias

  – A tendency to ignore or minimise differences between men and women. Such theories tend to ignore questions about the lives of women, or insights derived from studies of men will apply equally well to women.
• Androcentrism

  -Male centered bias where male behavior is considered the norm and deviations (e.g. famine behavior) are seen as abnormal.
• Universality

  -Psychological research being able to be applied to all. Practically impossible due to culture and gender bias.
• Alpha bias example

  Wilson (1975):

  Male: impregnate as many women to increase chances of his genes being passed down to the next generation.

  Women: (limited supply of eggs) preserving her genes is to ensure the healthy survival of her offspring.

  -Sexual promiscuity in men is genetically determined

  -Women who engage in the same behaviour are going against their nature and are therefore abnormal.
• Beta bias example:


  Taylor (2000): Fight or flight response- Actually found that women have a difference reaction in life threatening situation (Tend and befriend).

  They look after the vulnerable in the group + befriend other women.
• Evaluation +


  -feminist psychology argues that difference psychology arises from biological explanations of behaviour. Argues that there are real differences but socially determined stereotypes make a far greater contribution to perceived differences.

  -Androcentrism can be countered by a feminist view and the balance can be re addressed. Eagly (1978) acknowledged that women may be less effective leaders then men, but this knowledge should be used to develop suitable training programmes and therefore create a future with more women leaders.
• Evaluation -

  -Bias in research methods= if theories and studies are gender biased the research may find differences between genders, but it may not be the genders that differ, but simply the methods used to test or observe them.

  -Rosenthal (1966) found that male experimenters are more pleasant and encouraging to female participants and subsequently they preform better in tasks/male participants appeared to preform less well.

  -less women are appointed senior research positions means that female concerns are less likely to be reflected in the experimental questions.
• Evaluation +

  -reverse alpha bias describes the development of theories that show a greater emphasis on women= Cornwell et al (2013) showed that women are better at learning because they are more attentive, flexible and organised.