Gender bias

• what is gender bias?

  when one's gender is either favoured or discriminated against.
• what is alpha gender bias?

  when researchers over emphasise differences between genders.
• give an example of alpha gender bias.

  In the psychodynamic approach Freud argued that because girls do not suffer the American oedipal complex that boys do, they do not identify with their mothers in the same was that fathers and sons do therefore will develop weaker superegos.
• What is beta gender bias?

  when researchers ignore or downplay differences between genders.
• What is andocentrism?

  A form of beta bias when all behaviour is compared to a "male standard", often due to the disregard of women participants during studies.
• Give an example of beta gender bias.

  Early research conducted into the fight or flight response exclusively used male lab mice because they experience fewer hormonal fluctuations and so changes in adrenaline, due to environmental stressors, could be more reliably measured. However, results from these studies were then generalised to females, ignoring differences between the two sexes (e.g. speed and extent of the fight or flight response).
• What is universality?

  the aim to develop theories in an unbias manner, taking into account all differences.
• What are the consequences of gender bias?

  Female researchers may receive less funding as their role as serious psychologists may be questioned.

  
  

  the male viewpoint/behaviour becomes the 'norm' or the model for behaviour generally which could lead to female behaviour being viewed as 'abnormal', resulting in prejudice, discrimination, and sexism being viewed as normal and acceptable.
• What are two ways gender bias can be reduced?

  using a representative sample e.g. stratified, in research to reflect the gender demographic.

  
  

  ensure all gender research is given equal funding and status.