Culture Bias

• •Cultural bias = A tendency to ignore cultural differences and interpret all phenomena through the ‘lens’ of one’s own culture. I.e. if we are ‘normal’ then any behaviour that is different (i.e. cultural differences) is ‘abnormal’, ‘unusual’ or ‘inferior.’ This means that the behaviour of other cultures is misrepresented. It is usually the result of ignoring the role that culture plays in influencing behaviour and so mistakenly assuming that results from studies in Western culture apply all over the world.
• •Ethnocentrism = a type of cultural bias. It is the use of our own ethnic group as a basis for judgements about other groups. There is a belief in the superiority of one’s own cultural group. Any difference seen in other groups is seen as deficiency or underdevelopment.
• •Ainsworth identified the key defining variable of attachment type as the child’s separation anxiety. The ‘ideal’ secure attachment was characterised by moderate separation anxiety.•This led to the misinterpretation of child-rearing practices in other cultures e.g. German parents seen as cold and rejecting rather than independent.•Therefore, the Strange Situation is an inappropriate measure of attachment type for non-US children.
• Imposed etic: Ainsworth imposed her ideas and ways of measuring attachment from outside of the culture she was studying (assumed they were true ‘everywhere’)
• EMIC RESEARCH: studies one culture alone to understand culture-specific behaviours.

  Researchers attempt to study behaviour through the eyes of the people who live in that culture. They try to "walk in their participants' shoes.”
• Cultural Relativism


  •This is the idea that norms and values can only be properly understood in specific social and cultural contexts.  This way cultural bias can be avoided.
• Differences between cultures

  Assumed to be due to nature or genetically inherited factors
• Assumption of differences between cultures

  People from different ethnic groups may then be labelled with an incorrect stereotype
• Results of IQ tests

  Interpreted to fit political agendas and effectively 'sanction' racist policy
• Cultural bias


  Used as scientific 'justification' to deny people from certain cultures opportunities within the workplace or wider society
• Different cultural behaviour

  Misrepresented and potentially pathologised