Outline and evaluate gender bias in psychology
-Gender bias is the differential treatment or representation of males and females, based on
stereotypes and not real differences.
-Psychology has historically been a male-dominated field, and consequently many
psychological theories are centered on, or dominated by males and a male point-of-view. For
example, Asch’s research into conformity was conducted on an entirely male sample. This is
known as androcentrism and may result in either alpha or beta bias.
-Alpha bias is a tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women which leads to
theories that devalue one gender in comparison to another. A prime example is Freud’s theory
which reflected the culture he lived in i.e. men were more powerful and more educated and
were regarded as superior to women. In his alpha-biased theory of psychoanalysis Freud
viewed femininity as a form of failed masculinity. Consequently, Freud’s theory exaggerated the
differences between males and females, which is an example of an alpha bias.
-Beta bias is a tendency to ignore or minimise differences between men and women. Such
theories tend either to ignore questions about the lives of the other gender and assume that
insights derived from studies of one gender apply equally well to women. For example,
biological psychologists have typically used only male animals to examine the fight-or-flight
response. This beta-biased approach meant that female behaviour went largely unexamined
until recently where studies showed females produce a tend-and-befriend response at times of
stress which is adaptive because it ensures survival of the offspring.
-Universality - aim is to develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real
differences
A03
1) Helps reduce gender bias - A strength of understanding gender bias is that it helps
contemporary psychologists to look for ways to reduce gender bias, proposing a number
of solutions. For example, Cornwell et al. (2013) noted that females are better at
learning, as they are more attentive and organised, thus emphasising both the value and
the positive attributes of women. As a result, this type of research helps to reduce or
challenge gender stereotypes and change people’s perceptions which is important in
reducing gender bias. Additionally, understanding gender bias helps restore the
imbalance in both psychological theories and research. For example, feminist
psychology accepts that there are biological differences between males and females:
Research by Eagly (1978) actually claims that female are less effective leaders than
males. However, the purpose of Eagly’s claim is to help researchers develop training
programmes aimed at reducing the lack of female leaders in the real-world. This
demonstrates how feminist psychology seeks to understand behaviour in terms of social
processes and thus find a way to greater equality.
-Gender bias is the differential treatment or representation of males and females, based on
stereotypes and not real differences.
-Psychology has historically been a male-dominated field, and consequently many
psychological theories are centered on, or dominated by males and a male point-of-view. For
example, Asch’s research into conformity was conducted on an entirely male sample. This is
known as androcentrism and may result in either alpha or beta bias.
-Alpha bias is a tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women which leads to
theories that devalue one gender in comparison to another. A prime example is Freud’s theory
which reflected the culture he lived in i.e. men were more powerful and more educated and
were regarded as superior to women. In his alpha-biased theory of psychoanalysis Freud
viewed femininity as a form of failed masculinity. Consequently, Freud’s theory exaggerated the
differences between males and females, which is an example of an alpha bias.
-Beta bias is a tendency to ignore or minimise differences between men and women. Such
theories tend either to ignore questions about the lives of the other gender and assume that
insights derived from studies of one gender apply equally well to women. For example,
biological psychologists have typically used only male animals to examine the fight-or-flight
response. This beta-biased approach meant that female behaviour went largely unexamined
until recently where studies showed females produce a tend-and-befriend response at times of
stress which is adaptive because it ensures survival of the offspring.
-Universality - aim is to develop theories that apply to all people, which may include real
differences
A03
1) Helps reduce gender bias - A strength of understanding gender bias is that it helps
contemporary psychologists to look for ways to reduce gender bias, proposing a number
of solutions. For example, Cornwell et al. (2013) noted that females are better at
learning, as they are more attentive and organised, thus emphasising both the value and
the positive attributes of women. As a result, this type of research helps to reduce or
challenge gender stereotypes and change people’s perceptions which is important in
reducing gender bias. Additionally, understanding gender bias helps restore the
imbalance in both psychological theories and research. For example, feminist
psychology accepts that there are biological differences between males and females:
Research by Eagly (1978) actually claims that female are less effective leaders than
males. However, the purpose of Eagly’s claim is to help researchers develop training
programmes aimed at reducing the lack of female leaders in the real-world. This
demonstrates how feminist psychology seeks to understand behaviour in terms of social
processes and thus find a way to greater equality.
