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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
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