Approaches Flashcards
What is introspection
Attempt to study the mind
Break up conscious awareness into thoughts, images and sensations
Use standardised procedures called structuralism
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach
We are born with a blank slate “tabula rasa”
All behaviour is learnt
What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning
CLASSICAL- learning through association
OPERANT- behaviour is maintained through consequence
What is vicarious reinforcement
Individual observed the behaviours of others and imitation occurs if the behaviours is rewarded
What are the mediational processes
ARRM
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
What is identification
People are more likely to imitate a behaviour of someone they identify with (a ROLE MODEL)
What is the biological assumption
Everything is first biological
Evolution- Darwin proposed natural selection genetically determines behaviour which enhances survival
What is neurochemistry
Actions of chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters)- an imbalance is linked to mental disorders
What is a concordance rate
How related people are
monozygotic twins (100%) have a higher concordance rate than dizygotic (50%)
What are the two things the cognitive approach focuses on
Inferences- drawing conclusions about the way our mental processes work based on observed behaviour
Schemas- packages of information developed through experiences (babies have innate physical schemas for sucking and grabbing)
What are used to understand internal mental processes
Theoretical and computer models
What is the information processing approach (in the cognitive approach)
Information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages- multi store model
What is cognitive neuroscience
Study of brain structures on mental processes
What is the brocas area
In the frontal lobe- damage to the frontal lobe leads to speech impairment
What do fMRI and PET scans allow us to do
Scientifically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes
What did Pavlov and Skinner do
Skinner- rat box (punishment, unpleasant stimuli)
Pos reinforcement= food
Neg reinforcement=electric current stopped
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Pavlov- dog guy
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
What is the biological approach
Belief that everything psychological was first biological
Must look at biological structures
Thoughts, feelings and emotions have a physical basis
What does it mean if something has a genetic basis
Is inherited through genes
What do twin studies investigate
Concordance rates (how similar)
Monozygotic= 100% concordance rate
Dizygotic= 50%
Difference between genotype and phenotype
Genotype- genetic make-up
Phenotype- way genes are expressed through physical, emotional or behavioural characteristics
Draw and label a neurone
Answer on phone
Draw out the nervous system
Answer on phone
What are the two functions of the nervous system
To collect, process and respond to info in the environment
To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
Everything involved in the endocrine system (besides HPA axis)
-> produces hormones
THYROID GLAND- produce thyroxine, control heart rate
PITUITARY GLAND- master gland, controls production of other hormones
HYPOTHALAMUS- activates the PITUITARY GLAND which triggers the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (fight or flight)
ANDRENAL MEDULLA- releases andrenaline, produces physiological changes and PADASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM comes back into play once the threat has passed
What is a gland
An organ in the body that processes substances such as hormones
What is a neurone
Nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals
How do the neurons flow through the system
SENSORY (carry messaged from the PNS to the CNS)
➡️RELAY (connect sensory to motor and other relay neurons, 97% of all neurons)
➡️MOTOR (connect CNC to effectors such as muscles or glands)
Differences between the different neurons
SENSORY- long dendrites, short axons (have two short axons)
RELAY- short dendrites and short axons
MOTOR- short dendrties, long axon (also have a big cell body and long terminals)
What are neurotransmitters and what are they divided into
Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles across the synapse
EXITATORY- increase pos charge and the liklihood of postsynaptic neuron passing on electrical impulses
INHIBITORY- increase negative charge and decrease the likelihood of postsynaptic neuron passing on electrical impulse
What is summation
If the net effect on the postsynaptic neuron is inhibitory the neurone is less likely to fire
Describe the process of synaptic transmission
Electrical neurotransmitters/impulses come to the end of the pre-synaptic membrane in vesicles
Vesicles release chemical neurotransmitters into the synapse and they diffuse across it down their conc gradient
The chemical neurotransmitters then lock into the special post-synaptic receptor sites of the adjacent neurone
Enzymes released to breakdown excess neurotransmitters OR they’re reabsorbed by the synaptic terminals
Vesicles are replenished with new and reused neurotransmitters, ready for the next impulse
