Culture Bias

What is meant by Cultural Bias in Psychological research? Why does it occur?

• The tendency to ignore cultural differences

• When psychologists fail to recognise the importance of culture on a variety of behaviours (Usually when it is assumed Western research can be Te)

What is meant by Ethnocentrism in Psychological research?

The belief that one’s culture is superior to others

Why is Ainsworth’s research considered Ethocentric? What does this cause?

• American child rearing style was seen as the norm by which other cultures were judged

• Imposed etic

Imposed etic

A form of cultural bias where researchers wrongly apply theories, methods, or constructs developed in one culture (often Western) to another, assuming they are universal

Why is the diagnosis of Schizophrenia culture biased?

• Black Americans are 2 times more likely to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia than white Americans

• Diagnosed by white middle class doctors who may not understand culture

• Leads to overdiagnosis in black Americans

What is meant by Cultural relativism

The view that behavior, norms and values can only be understood within their specific cultural context and no-ones culture is superior to another culture

Give an example of Cultural relativism in how Mental illness is diagnosed (e.g. link to the definitions of abnormality)

• Hearing voices is often diagnosed as Schizophrenia in Western cultures, fitting deviation from social norms and failure to function adequately

• However, in some cultures, hearing voices is socially accepted

• Shows cultural relativism because the same behaviour is considered abnormal in one culture but normal in another, meaning definitions of abnormality are culturally biased

Explain how cross-cultural Van ijzendoorn’s research shows attachment is culturally relative

• Van ijzendoorn found that attachment types vary across cultures (e.g. more avoidant in Germany, more resistant in Japan)

• This shows cultural relativism because attachment behaviours reflect different child-rearing norms, so what is seen as “insecure” in one culture may be normal in another

Emic approach

Studies behaviour from within a culture, focusing on meanings specific to that culture

Etic approach

Studies behaviour from outside the culture, using the same theories/measures across all cultures

What is a limitation of culture bias/ethnocentrism on collectivist culture?

Research carried out in individualistic cultures → Behaviour different to collectivist cultures → Collectivist cultures seen as inferior

What did Takano and Osaka (1999) find about differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures?

• Found no distinction between collectivist and individualist cultures

• Suggests cultural bias in research is no longer a significant issue in modern cross-cultural research

What is meant by Universality? 

The idea that certain traits, behaviours or experiences are shared by all humans, regardless of culture, gender or social background

Give 2 examples of how culture Bias may affect the research process

• Imposed etic: Researchers apply Western theories to other cultures (e.g. the Strange Situation), so behaviour may be misinterpreted → reducing validity

• Ethnocentric interpretation: Findings are judged against Western norms, rather than understanding cultural practices → biased conclusions

Give 3 ways carrying out more cross cultural research help reduce Cultural Bias in Psychology

• Allows universal behaviours to be identified → reduces ethnocentrism by showing what is truly universal vs culture-specific

• Increases understanding of cultural differences → reduces misinterpretation of behaviour

• Highlights bias in research/diagnosis (e.g. Schizophrenia diagnosis varies across cultures) → leads to more culturally sensitive theories and methods

What 3 methods can be used to reduce cultural bias?

1. Emic approach – studying a culture from within helps improve cultural validity and avoids imposing outside meanings

2. Avoid imposed etic – not assuming findings from one culture (e.g. Western) apply universally reduces ethnocentric bias

3. Reflexivity – researchers reflect on how their own cultural background may influence interpretation, improving objectivity