Gamma bias
Gamma bias refers to a cognitive gender bias theory developed by Seager & Barry (2019).[1]
The theory of gamma bias entails the interrelation of two concurrent biases: alpha bias (exaggerating or magnifying gender differences) and beta bias (ignoring or minimising gender differences). Gamma bias occurs when one gender difference is minimised while simultaneously another is magnified, resulting in .[2]
The authors state that in practice gamma bias works to magnify women's issues and achievements and to minimize men's issues and achievements, or alternatively the dynamic can be reversed and employed to minimize negative female traits and behaviors, while magnifying or exaggerating any negative male traits or behaviors.
The gamma bias phenomenon can be conceptualised as a symmetrical 2*2 matrix of cognitive distortions, the gender distortion matrix. The matrix below describes examples of gamma bias, where perceptions of men and women are differentially magnified (capital letters underlined) or minimised (lower case letters in italics).
Further reading
References
- ↑ Seager, M., Barry, J.A. (2019). Cognitive Distortion in Thinking About Gender Issues: Gamma Bias and the Gender Distortion Matrix. In: Barry, J., Kingerlee, R., Seager, M., Sullivan, L. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health. Palgrave Macmillan
- ↑ John Barry & Martin Seager, Can we discuss gender issues rationally? Yes, if we can stop gamma bias