AQA Psychology for A Level Year 2 Flashbook

S p e c S p o t l i g h t Book-link Y2/A Student Book Pages 96–97 Y2/A Revision Guide Pages 58–59 Gender and culture in psychology — universality and bias. Cultural bias, including ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. AO1 Gender and culture in psychology: Cultural bias AO3 Psychologists claim universality but many studies biased . Example = Asch, Milgram replications had very different results outside of the US. Ethnocentrism — superiority of own cultural group, others seen as deficient. Example = Strange Situation, reflects values of US culture (imposed etic). Cultural relativism — psychology’s ‘facts’ only make sense in the culture studied. Etic approach looks at behaviour from outside, emic is fromwithin a culture. Individualism-collectivismdistinction may no longer apply (Takano and Osaka). Recognise cultural relativism (e.g. attachment behaviours) and universals (e.g. emotions, Ekman). Demand characteristics — arise in cross- cultural research, affects validity. Difficulty interpreting variables — e.g. personal space, cultural meanings differ. Cross-cultural research challenges Western assumptions — promotes greater sensitivity. 5 Topic 1: Issues and debaTes