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Psychology A-Level > 5 Approaches- Biological > Flashcards

5 Approaches- Biological Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the biological approach?

A

the approach that believes behaviour, personality, mental illness and intelligence are due to inherited characteristics

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2
Q

what are the four sections within the biological approach?

A

-influence of genes on behaviour
-biological structures
-neurochemistry
-evolution

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3
Q

what is the influence of genes on behaviour?

A

genes can be studied to see if certain genes increase the likelihood of developing certain behaviours

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4
Q

examples of behaviours that genes influence

A

agression, OCD, schizophrenia

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5
Q

what are genes?

A

sections of DNA strands found in cells

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6
Q

difference between dominant and recessive genes

A

dominant genes need one in a pair to show their effect, whereas recessive genes must have both present for the characteristics to be presented

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7
Q

what is the genotype?

A

genetic material given by a sperm and egg which shows the alleles present for a certain characteristic

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8
Q

what is the phenotype?

A

the expressed characteristic as a result of their genetics and influence of the environment

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9
Q

how can we investigate the role of human genes with behaviour?

A

use twin studies

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10
Q

what are the two types of twins and their genetic similarity percentage?

A

MZ twins share 100% genetic similarity (identical)
DZ twins share 50% genetic similarity (non-identical)

the study looks to establish a concordance rate which provides a statistical measure in the level of agreement between the twin pairs

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11
Q

would a higher concordance rate in MZ or DZ twins show a genetic component to a characterisitic?

A

a higher concordance rate in MZ twins

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12
Q

example of twin study performed

A

Gottesman (1991)
-40 twin studies to research schizophrenia
-results demonstrated that genes play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia

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13
Q

what does polygenic mean?

A

characteristic is influenced by two or more genes

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13
Q

example of twin study researching aggression

A

Brengden (2005)
-researchers studied 233 twin pairs aged 6
-higher concordance rates found in MZ twins on physical aggression than between DZ twins (same sex)
-suggested that physical aggression can be genetically inherited, but there is a very weak link as there are many environmental factors too.

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14
Q

what biological structures play a significant role in the biological approach?

A

the nervous system, brain

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15
Q

what is the nervous system?

A

your body’s command centre
-it controls movements, thoughts and automatic responses to the environment

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16
Q

what are the two sections the nervous system is divided into?

A

peripheral nervous system (somatic, autonomic)

central nervous system (brain, spinal cord)

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17
Q

how is the brain divided?

A

into 2 hemispheres and 4 lobes

18
Q

name the two hemispheres the brain is divided into?

A

left hemisphere
and the right hemisphere

19
Q

name the 4 lobes the brain is divided into?

A

pre-frontal lobe
parietal lobe
temporal lobe
occipital lobe

20
Q

what is the pre-frontal lobe?

A

this is the emotional control centre of the brain, it is responsible for our personality and decision influencing

21
Q

what is the parietal lobe?

A

this processes sensory information for cognitive purposes and it helps to coordinate spatial relations it help make sense of the world around us.

22
Q

what is the temporal lobe?

A

based at the bottom of the brain, a part of this interprets the sounds and language we hear

23
Q

what is the occipital lobe?

A

this is responsible for processing visual information

24
Q

how can the brain be studied?

A

brain scans
case studies

25
Q

what are scans used for?

A

scans are used to help examine patterns of brain activity and anatomical structures

26
Q

give and briefly describe 4 types of scans

A

PET scans use radioactive chemicals to show activity
CAT scans detect damaged parts of the brain
MRI scans use magnets and radiowaves to produce detailed images
fMRI scans create images of the brain and blood flow

27
Q

how can case studies help us study the brain?

A

case studies with people who have experienced trauma or damage to their brain can be used to study localisation of function, showing how certain parts of the brain have specific functions and roles

28
Q

example of case study used to study the brain

A

Phineas Gage (1848)
Phineas Gage had a workplace accident in which an iron tamping rod entered and exited his skull.
-this suggested a link between brain damage and personality as his personality completely changed after the accident
-frontal cortex was damaged which is involved in social cognition and behaviour
-frontal lobe responsible for characteristics and human behaviour
-he became anti social and aggressive

29
Q

what is neurochemistry?

A

the study of chemical processes which take part in the nervous system
-messages travel i the nervous system through the spinal cord and hormones through electrical impulses.

30
Q

role of the spinal cord

A

carries nerve signals to and from the brain

31
Q

how to messages travel to and from the brain?

A

messages travel via electrical impulses, along the axon of a neuron, until a synapse is reached.
neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic gap to the receiving neurone

32
Q

what are hormones?

A

chemicals that travel through the bloodstream

-impact metabolism, blood pressure, glucose levels, growth and development

33
Q

what is evolution in the biological approach?

A

a change in the genetic composition of a population over successive generations

34
Q

what scientists proposed evolution is a result of natural and sexual selection?

A

Charles Darwin (1859)

35
Q

what does natural selection suggest?

A

organisms that are more adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on the genes that aided their success. as a result they reproduce as pass on alleles
-a genetic mutation comes along causing a change in genetic structure

36
Q

what is sexual selection?

A

the advantage which certain individuals have over other individuals of the same sex and species solely in respect of reproduction
-intra-specific reproductive competition

37
Q

example of sexual selection

A

women find men more attractive if they have big muscles for protection, in the past men fought for their families and for food.

38
Q

AO3
what is an opposing idea to this approach?

A

ignores the role of nuture, focuses entirely on nature
-does not fully explain many disorders or behaviours- both biology and the environment play a part
-the diathesis stress model suggests that mental disorders are caused by vulnerabilities combined with stress factors

39
Q

AO3
is this approach deterministic?

A

it is biologically deterministic as it fails to acknowledge the role of free will in human behaviour (also experiences)
-characteristics are determined by genetics, we have no control over our behaviour
-this can cause problems as behaviour may become excusable as they have no responsibility over how we behave

40
Q

AO3
does this approach have any applications?

A

drug treatments for mental illnesses e.g. SSRIs for serotonin
-drugs can be designed to alter biochemical imbalances e.g. low levels of serotonin activity is associated with OCD, drugs can increase serotonin levels of activity at the synapse
-this is useful to help minimise and manage the symptons of disorders by addressing neurotransmitter imbalances

41
Q

AO3
is this approach scientific?

A

yes, it is based on scientific research evidence
-methods such as scans occur in labs, high levels of strict control, control over EVs, high internal validity
-the data collected is also empirical and observable, allowing for replication, no biases or inferences made with visual scan images

42
Q

AO3
is there a clear cause and effect relationship in this approach?

A

it can be difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship between biological factors and human behaviour
-e.g. low levels of serotonin activity can be a factor of OCD, it is never fully determined if this causes OCD or if OCD causes low serotonin activity levels

Psychology A-Level (7 decks)

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