Gender Bias

• The relationship between universality and bias

  • Attempting to find universal laws for humans can lead to bias by:
  • Potentially ignoring differences
  • Making biased assumptions when selecting 'important' characteristics
• Alpha bias


  • Presents differences as fixed and inevitable
  • Exaggerates differences
  • Can be seen in both ways, but mostly in situations which devalue the side most associated with females
• Example of alpha bias

  • BSRI - exaggerates differences in characteristics between male and female traits
  • Role of father - fathers play a different role (Grossman) but other research has shown they can play the same role
• Beta bias


  • Ignores or minimises known differences between genders
  • Research is only carried out on one gender and are assumed to be applicable across genders
  • Problem with assuming, not the sample
• Example of beta bias

  • Asch - male-only sample, universal claims of conformity
  • Milgram - male-only sample, universal claims of obedience, Sheriden and King's puppy research
  • Schizophrenia - diagnostic systems reflect male symptoms e.g. social functioning, undiagnosed women
• Androcentricism


  • The broad value that the male position is dominant/the standard
  • Mostly androcentric due to patriarchy, but there is some gynocentricism
  • Freud - sees men as dominant
  • PMS - pathologises