, Gender bias
Universality
An idea that there are a range of psychological characteristics of human
beings that can be applied to all, despite differences of experience and
upbringing. Gender bias and culture bias threaten the universality of
·
findings in psychology.
Gender bias
Psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably
represent the experience and behaviour of men and women.
Alpha bias
Psychological theories that suggest there are major differences between
men and women. The sociobiological theory of relationship formation,
which explains human sexual attraction and behaviour through survival
efficiency. The main idea is that the sexual promiscuity in males is
genetically determined whilst females who engage in same behaviour are
regarded as going against their nature. Freud argues that there are
genuine psychological differences between men and women. Women
were inferior as young girls suffered penis envy as they cannot undergo
the same oedipus complex and must be inferior.
Beta bias
Theories that minimise differences between men and women. Kohlberg’s
theory of moral development is based on male-orientated principles,
though he argued such principles were universal and represented moral
reasoning for both male and females. An argument was that male morality
is based on abstract principles such as the importance of justice, whilst
female morality is more influenced by an ethic of care and responsibility
to others.
Andocentrism
Male centered; When normal behaviour is judged according to a male
standard, behaviour that deviates from the standard is seen as abnormal
or inferior. This leads to female behaviour being misunderstood, and at
worst pathologised. Critics claim that PMS is a social construction which
medicalises female emotions, especially anger, by explaining these in
hormonal terms.
Universality
An idea that there are a range of psychological characteristics of human
beings that can be applied to all, despite differences of experience and
upbringing. Gender bias and culture bias threaten the universality of
·
findings in psychology.
Gender bias
Psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably
represent the experience and behaviour of men and women.
Alpha bias
Psychological theories that suggest there are major differences between
men and women. The sociobiological theory of relationship formation,
which explains human sexual attraction and behaviour through survival
efficiency. The main idea is that the sexual promiscuity in males is
genetically determined whilst females who engage in same behaviour are
regarded as going against their nature. Freud argues that there are
genuine psychological differences between men and women. Women
were inferior as young girls suffered penis envy as they cannot undergo
the same oedipus complex and must be inferior.
Beta bias
Theories that minimise differences between men and women. Kohlberg’s
theory of moral development is based on male-orientated principles,
though he argued such principles were universal and represented moral
reasoning for both male and females. An argument was that male morality
is based on abstract principles such as the importance of justice, whilst
female morality is more influenced by an ethic of care and responsibility
to others.
Andocentrism
Male centered; When normal behaviour is judged according to a male
standard, behaviour that deviates from the standard is seen as abnormal
or inferior. This leads to female behaviour being misunderstood, and at
worst pathologised. Critics claim that PMS is a social construction which
medicalises female emotions, especially anger, by explaining these in
hormonal terms.
