Gender bias

• Alpha bias

  Exaggerates the differences between males and females. Any differences are presented as real, fixed, enduring and inevitable. They most frequently devalue females compared to males. 
• Example of alpha bias: psychodynamic theory:

  Boys suffer from the Oedipus complex, which girls do not. Because of this they do not identify as strongly with their mothers as boys do with their fathers, so develop a weaker super ego

  And are somehow less moral than boys. This theory is an e.g of alpha bias because Freud exaggerates the differences between males and females., arguing that females are somehow inferior to males.
• Beta bias

  Ignores, minimises the differences between men and women. Often happens when there are no female pps in a research study. Its then assumed that the research findings (only on males) apply to everyone.
• Example of beta bias: fight or flight response:

  Early research only had male pps, they just assumed that it would generalise to female too.it assumed to be a universal response to a threatening situation. Most recent research (Taylor et al) has suggested that female biology inhibits the fight or flight response and that females adopt a tend and befriend approach instead.
• Example of beta bias: Strandford prison experiment.

  Only had male pps.it was assumed that the behaviours (conformity to social roles ) shown by male pps in the study would be the same as females.
• Androcentrism:

  A possible consequence of beta bias is androcentrism. Beta bias studies are centred on or focused on males. If a male only sample has been used, this is seen as the norm. So male behaviour is judged as the norm, and anything different is seen as abnormal. This often means that female behaviour (if different) is assumed to be wrong, abnormal. Female behaviour is misunderstood and sometimes pathologised. This means its so different to the male 'norm' that its assumed to be a sign of a psychological disorder. 
• Example of androcentrism: PMS

  Feminists object to this as they believe that its a social construct which stereotypes and trivialises the female experience.it suggests that females anger is due to hormones whereas male anger is a rational response to external pressure.
• A weakness of gender bias is that research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour. Gender biased research may provide scientific 'justification' to deny women opportunities within the workplace or in a wider society. In any situation where men set the ‘normal’ standard, it becomes normal for women to feel abnormal. Therefore, gender bias in psychological research may have damaging consequences for females, which could affect the lives and prospects of real people:
• A weakness of gender bias is essentialism. Many of the gender differences reported by psychologists over the years are based on an essentialist perspective: that the difference between genders is inevitable and ‘fixed’ in nature. Walkerdine reports how scientific research in the 1930s showed that intellectual activity shrivelled a women’s ovaries. Such essentialist accounts in psychology are often particularly motivated arguments which are disguised as biological ‘facts’. This can create a double standard in the way behaviour is viewed. 
• A weakness of gender bias is the sexism within the research process. A lack of women appointed at senior research level means that female concerns may not be reflected in the questions asked/ studied. Male researchers are more likely to have their work published. Also, studies which have found a difference between genders are more likely to be published than those which have not found a difference. This means psychology may be guilty of supporting a form of institutional sexism that creates bias in theory’s and methods. 
• A weakness of gender bias is that assumptions need to be examined. Examples of gender bias continue to be unchallenged in many theories. For example, Darwin’s theory of sexual selection portrays women as choosy and males as the ones who compete to be chosen. This is a problem as we are aware of gender bias, but are yet to adjust theories which maintain that unfair bias.