2023 AQA A LEVEL
PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 3 MARK
SCHEME- Issues & Options
Gender bias
Psychologists seek universality
but bias may be inevitable
(social historical contexts)
Gender bias: psychological
theory/research not accurately
represent
experience/behaviour of men
+ women
,Alpha bias: differences
exaggerated, devalue women
E.g. Freud = genuine
psychological differences due
to physiological differences
Girls suffer from 'penis envy',
femininity is failed masculinity
Beta bias: differences
minimised, needs of women
ignored
,E.g. fight or flight research =
male only sample, assumed
would be applicable, Taylor et
al: tend and befriend
(governed by oxytocin)
Androcentrism: male
behaviour seen as normal,
deviations seen as
abnormal/inferior
Female behaviour
misunderstood/pathologised
, E.g. feminists object to PMS,
medicalises female emotions
by explaining in hormonal
terms (Male anger often seen
as rational response to
external pressures)
Gender bias (- in psych
research)
May create misleading
assumptions about female
PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 3 MARK
SCHEME- Issues & Options
Gender bias
Psychologists seek universality
but bias may be inevitable
(social historical contexts)
Gender bias: psychological
theory/research not accurately
represent
experience/behaviour of men
+ women
,Alpha bias: differences
exaggerated, devalue women
E.g. Freud = genuine
psychological differences due
to physiological differences
Girls suffer from 'penis envy',
femininity is failed masculinity
Beta bias: differences
minimised, needs of women
ignored
,E.g. fight or flight research =
male only sample, assumed
would be applicable, Taylor et
al: tend and befriend
(governed by oxytocin)
Androcentrism: male
behaviour seen as normal,
deviations seen as
abnormal/inferior
Female behaviour
misunderstood/pathologised
, E.g. feminists object to PMS,
medicalises female emotions
by explaining in hormonal
terms (Male anger often seen
as rational response to
external pressures)
Gender bias (- in psych
research)
May create misleading
assumptions about female
