gender bias

• what is universality

  the aim to develop theories that apply to all people
• what is gender bias

  when research doesn't represent the experience and behaviour of both men and women
• what is androcentrism

  when 'normal' behaviour is judged according to a male standard (all male sample)
• what is alpha gender bias

  when theories exaggerate differences between males and females
• what is beta gender bias

  when theories ignore differences between males and females
• examples of alpha gender bias

  evolutionary explanations of gender differences in sexual behaviour

  • men are more promiscuous that women, maximise number of offspring
  • females limited in number of offspring, carry baby, breastfeeding
• examples of beta gender bias

  equity theory of romantic relationships

  • relationship satisfaction depends on perceived fairness, differences between male and females are ignored but been found that females are more concerned with inequity than males - theory is more applicable than males
• issue of gender biased research

  has negative implications for women

  • may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour, validating discriminatory practices
  • may be used to provide scientific justification to deny women opportunities in workplace and society
  • 2x more likely to be diagnosed with depression as men, emotions appearing abnormal compared to male 'norm'
  • may have damaging consequences which effects the lives of women
• issue of gender biased research

  it also has negative consequences for men

  • for example male are less likely to be diagnosed with depression so don't receive treatment
  • suicide is biggest cause of death in men under the age of 40
  • alpha biased diagnosis of mental illness can be detrimental to males as well as females
• criticism of gender biased research

  majority of psychological research is carried out by males which may have an effect on the results of studies

  • female p's might feel intimidated by male researchers who have the power to label them as unreasonable, irrational
  • another issue is that due to the lack of females carrying out research, female concerns may not be investigated in the first place
• issue of gender bias

  gender bias remains unchallenged in many theories

  • theories of sexual selection (suggested that the idea of choosy females and competitive males is rooted in Victorian times when women were coy and males were aggressive with other competitors
  • now been recognised that women are equally as competitive and aggressive when the need arises
  • so theories should be revised and updated