Revision:Cultural Bias

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Cultural bias

Psychologists tend to be from rich, industrialised countries -> West, U.S.

Most research done on students

To what extent can we generalise from research done in one country to the rest of the world?

Ethnocentrism = the effect that your culture has on your perceptions of other cultures

Eurocentrism = People from Europe and U.S. dominate the world, especially in terms of psychology

Individualist = Identity is defined by personal achievement and independence.

Collectivist = Identity is defined by collective achievement and interdependence.

Etic = Behaviours that are universal.

Emic = Behaviours that are specific to 1 or a few cultures or subcultures.

• Observers are biased by ethnocentrism.
• The concept of culture can include time differences.
• E.g. 1950s Britain is very different to Britain today – what is accepted, attitudes and beliefs.

If research is done and is presented as a theory on all human behaviour it is

BETA-BIASED – minimises or ignores cultural differences

Bias in theories

Kohlberg’s theory of moral development – accused of Western, middle class and individualistic bias

Mental illness -> ICD + DSM -> used on individuals regardless of culture

Freud -> theory based in time when sex was repressed

Bias in research

Turnbull (1961) -> Took Kenge to top of hill. Looked out over forest, Kenge asked “What insects are those?” He was pointing to buffalo – no idea about perception and distance.

Cross-cultural research

Milgram -> Holland = 92% obedience. Australia = 16% obedience.

Culture + IQ

Klineberg (1971)

• Gave IQ test to Yakima Native American children.
• Test focused on doing something with speed.
• Most failed as their culture doesn’t share Western priorities on speed.

Porteus (1937)

• Gave IQ test to Australian Aborigines.
• Reluctant to take as found it difficult to work individually.

Can bias in psychology be justified?

e.g. Universal man = ok (we have same biology)

BUT

There are clear cultural differences and ignoring = unacceptable

Comments

• Suitable for: Psychology
• Written by: Sazarina88.
• From this thread.