Culture bias

• Cultural bias: A tendency to interpret all phenomena through the 'lens' of ones own culture, ignoring effects that cultural differences might have on ones behaviour.
• Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures by standards and values of ones own culture. In it's extreme form it is the belief in the superiority of ones own culture which leads to prejudice and discrimination.
• Cultural relativism: The idea that norms and values as well as ethics and moral standards can only be meaningful and understood within specific social and cultural contexts.
• Henrich et al-

  • Reviewed hundreds of studies and found that 68% of research participants came from the US.
  • 98% from industrialised countries.
• WEIRD- Westernised, Educated people from Industrialised Rich Democracies. (people most likely to be in a study)
• The norm is WEIRD people, which means that those from other places may be seen as unusual.
• Ainsworths strange situation:

  • Suggested ideal attachment type was secure.
  • This led to a misrepresentation of child rearing practices in non western countries which may have led to a non securely attachment.
• Berry argued that psychology has an imposed etic approach, taking a study from one culture and trying to apply it to all.
• Culture bias Evaluation (limitation)

  • Many of the most influential studies in psychology are culturally bias.
  • This suggests how the findings can only be applied to individualistic cultures.
• Culture bias Evaluation (Strength)

  • It is argued that the individualist/collectivist divide no longer applies.
  • Studies show that the line is becoming more blurred between the two cultures.
  • Cultural bias may be less of a problem in more recent research.
• Culture bias Evaluation (strength)

  • There has been an emergence of cultural psychology.
  • Cross-cultural research is becoming more of a norm as culture bias is becoming more recognized.
  • This shows how psychologists are aware of the dangers of culture bias.
• Culture bias Evaluation (Limitation)

  • Culture bias has led to stereotyping and prejudice.
  • It is been used to justify discrimination towards other cultures.