Question

Explain two ways in which early psychological research was biased and give an example of this bias in psychology.

Answer 1

Answer:

The predominance of white, middle-class males in early psychology caused some research to be biased. Some research was gender biased or androcentric, which means that research was viewed from a male perspective and used as the basis to study cognitive processes and behavior. One example of androcentrism is Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, which he developed by only studying males. Some early psychological research was also racially biased, affecting the topics researched and the interpretation of research findings. For example, R. Meade Bache conducted research on the reaction times across three racial groups and interpreted that Caucasians have the slowest reaction times because they’re less primitive and more intellectual and contemplative than other racial groups.

Explanation:

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