gender bias

• Universality

  That conclusion drawn can be applied to everyone, anywhere, regardless of time, gender or culture (gender bias threatens this)
• Gender bias

  A distorted view of behaviour based on gender which may lead to misunderstanding or differential treatment based on gender.
• Androcentrism

  Male-centred view where ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to a male standard (can result in female behaviour as being judged as abnormal)
• Alpha bias

  • Tends to present a view that exaggerates differences

  • Research that focuses on differences between men and women
• Beta bias

  • Tends to present a view that ignores/minimises differences between gender

  • Assumes findings from males can be equally applied to females
• Social influence: Asch/Milgram/ZimbardoMany studies in social influence are conducted on males and the results are applied universally to both genders. Ignores potential differences in conformity/obedience between genders (beta bias)
• Approaches: Freud and psychosexual developmentFreuds ideas are inherently gender biased and androcentric (male-centred) e.g. penis envy and the idea that women are defined psychologically by the fact that they aren’t male.Reinforces negative stereotypes
• Schizophrenia: Diagnosis Study:

  290 psychiatrists were shown 2 cases of patient behaviours. When the patient was described as male 56% were diagnosed with SZ, however this was only 20% where described as female.

  Clear gender bias in the diagnosis of SZ (alpha bias)
• What are the problems with gender bias in research?

  • Misunderstanding/misrepresentation of a gender

  • Discrimination/differential treatment towards a gender due to negative stereotypes and not real differences (caused by alpha bias)

  • Minimisation of differences (beta bias) meaning differences are ignored where they may need to be acknowledge e.g. differences in diagnosis mental illnesses
• Gender bias research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour and validate discriminatory practices e.g. providing justification to deny opportunities for women in the workplace or wider society.

  Gender bias in research can lead to misunderstandings/discrimination and assumptions need to be examined an applied appropriately
• A lack of women in senior research levels means female concerns may not be reflected in research questions. Male research may also impose androcentric views/expectations on female pps in studies.

  Institutional structures and methods of psychology may produce findings which are gender biased
• Criteria have been put forward to avoid gender bias in research, suggesting women should be studies within meaningful contexts and be used in research in equal measure as men.

  Reducing gender bias within research will help to reduce misunderstandings in gender differences and reduce negative stereotypes around women