Ethnocentrism

• 1

  • Ethnocentrism refers to using our own ethnic or cultural group as a basis for judging other groups
  • It needs to be minimised when conducting objective research as it is a form of cultural bias
• 2

  • Hare-Mustin and Marecek (1988) found that research can become alpha bias or beta bias if ethnocentrism is not controlled
  • Alpha bias is where there is believed to be real and enduring differences between cultural groups, which leads to the belief that one’s own culture is superior and devaluing others
  • For example, Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory is a framework for cross-cultural psychology, developed by Geert Hofstede
  • It shows the effects of a society's culture on the values of its members, and how these values relate to behavior, using a structure derived from factor analysis
• 2(2)

  • Beta bias is where culture differences are ignored, and it is presumed test results have the same meaning for all cultures. 
  • An example of this is Milgram, who is often criticised for ignoring cultural factors that might influence obedience levels
• 3

  • In Germany, the legacy ofauthoritarianism was still fresh in memory due to Nazi regime
  • They showed higher levels of disobedience compared to the original Milgram experiments, which was due to the Nazis
  • Therefore, other cultures may feel superior to Germany, but they were under different circumstances
  • It is believed that psychologists should investigate cultural relativism to minimisetheir research becoming culturally bias as this is the belief that all cultures are equal and deserve respect
• 4 - counter

  • On the other hand, research can still have alpha and beta biases
  • The assumption of differences between cultures leads to overlooking of universals
  • This is an alpha bias
  • The assumption of no differences is just as harmful
  • Beta bias occurs when defining mental disorders, where behaviours deemed normal in one culture it may be pathologized in another
  • Cultural relativism is the preferred view of the two, psychologists just need to ensure they’re not letting culture get in the way of their objectivity.