A-level Culture Bias

Cultural bias can be defined as the...

• the values, beliefs and patterns of behaviour shared by a group of people. 

• tendency to judge people in terms of one's own cultural assumptions.

• idea that any conclusions drawn about behaviour can be applied to all people,

• idea that norms and values can only be understood within the specific social and cultural context.

Universality can be defined as the idea that...

• any conclusions drawn about behaviour can be applied to all people, regardless of culture.

• we can judge others behaviour by our own culture,

• norms and values can only be understood within the specific social and cultural context.

• theories or research tools can be used to explain behaviour in other cultures,

To prevent an imposed etic we should...

• Try to change the theory to fit their cultural assumptions

• take into account that some cultures are more exposed to psychology and taking part in psychological research than others.

• take an emic approach where we study behaviours that are specific to one culture and does not try to apply it

African-carribean immigrants are 7x more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness. This is because the symptoms that are listed in the DSM have only been studied in western culture. This is an example of...

• Cultural relativism

• Universality

• Research Traditions

• Individualistic culture

An american psychologist created a questionnaire to measure the likelihood of someone being able to resist social influence. He found that the average score in the UK was 15 and in North Korea it was 8. He concluded that North Koreans are more conformist. This is an example of...

• Universality

• Research Traditions

• Imposed Etic

• Cultural Relativism

You are an avid Wycombe Wanderers (football) fan. You always think Wycombe are going to win their matches, this is an example of...

• Ethnocentricm

• Imposed etic

• Cultural relativism

• Universality

Sternberg found that in tribal societies motor co-ordination skills are the highest form of intelligence, the most valued within Psychology. This is an example of...

• Universality

• Cultural relativism

• Research tradition

• Ethnocentrism