Gender bias

• What is gender bias in psychology?

  Gender bias refers to the tendency to favor one gender over another in psychological theories and research.
• What is alpha bias?

  Alpha bias is the tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women, often devaluing one gender.
• What does androcentrism mean?

  Androcentrism refers to a focus on male perspectives, often excluding or marginalizing women.
• What is beta bias?

  Beta bias is the tendency to ignore or minimize differences between genders, assuming findings apply equally to both.
• What is gender bias in moral reasoning research?

  Gender bias in moral reasoning research refers to assumptions that moral reasoning applies universally, ignoring gender differences.
• Who is Carol Gilligan and what did she contribute to gender bias discussions?


  Carol Gilligan pointed out that traditional moral reasoning theories were male-oriented and did not account for women's perspectives.
• How did Gilligan's approach differ from Kohlberg's in terms of gender bias?

  Gilligan's approach recognized that women favor a care orientation while men favor a justice orientation, without deeming one superior.
• What are the key terms related to gender bias in psychology?

  • Alpha bias: Exaggeration of differences between genders.
  • Androcentrism: Focus on male perspectives, marginalizing women.
  • Beta bias: Minimization of differences, assuming equal applicability.
  • Gender bias: Favoring one gender in theories and research.
  • Universality: The aim to develop theories applicable to all people.
• What did Freud's theories reflect regarding gender bias?

  Freud's theories reflected alpha bias by viewing women as inferior and emphasizing male superiority.
• What is the significance of feminist psychology in addressing gender bias?


  Feminist psychology seeks to redress imbalances in psychological theory and research by emphasizing social constructs over biological determinism.
• How does feminist psychology view biological differences between genders?

  Feminist psychology acknowledges biological differences but argues that socially constructed stereotypes contribute more to perceived differences.
• What is reverse alpha bias?

  Reverse alpha bias involves developing theories that highlight the strengths of women, often valuing their contributions over men's.
• How can recognizing gender differences help avoid beta bias?

  Recognizing gender differences can lead to more equitable treatment and opportunities for both genders in various fields.
• What assumptions about gender bias need to be examined in psychological theories?

  Assumptions such as the portrayal of women as choosy and men as competitive in mate selection need to be critically evaluated.
• What evidence challenges traditional views of female selectivity in mate choice?

  Recent evidence suggests that women can be equally competitive and may benefit from mating with multiple partners.
• What are the implications of gender bias in research methods?

  • Psychological theories often reflect gender biases.
  • Research methods may favor one gender over another.
  • The gender of the researcher can influence study outcomes.
  • Findings may not accurately represent women's experiences.
• What did Eagly and Johnson (1990) find regarding leadership styles?

  Eagly and Johnson found that men and women were judged as more similar in their leadership styles than previously thought.
• What is the role of assumptions in perpetuating gender bias in psychology?

  Assumptions can reinforce stereotypes and limit the understanding of gender differences in behavior and psychology.
• How can addressing gender bias in psychology contribute to social change?

  Addressing gender bias can lead to more equitable treatment and representation of all genders in psychological research and practice.
• What are the challenges associated with gender bias in psychological research?

  • Gender-based theories may not reflect reality.
  • Research methods may be biased towards one gender.
  • Findings may not generalize to all genders.
  • The gender of researchers can influence outcomes.