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A-level Psychology Miss Ladrook > Approaches in psychology- BIOLOGICAL > Flashcards

Approaches in psychology- BIOLOGICAL Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the biological approach?

A

One that sees behaviour as rooted in the physiological and biology of the body.
Assumes that all behaviour in insight and due to nature.
Examines the processes that occur, and looks for how that may affect an individual.

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2
Q

What are the assumptions of the biological approach?

A

Genetics
Central nervous system- brain and spinal cord
Chemistry of the body

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3
Q

What are the basic assumptions of genetics in this approach?

A
  • Genes possessed by an individual, influence behaviour
  • Belief in process of evolution
  • The same way physical characteristics evolve, so does behaviour -> through evolutionary adaptation
  • To inform us about our behaviour, we are lead to experiment on animals
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4
Q

What are the basic assumptions in this approach of the CNS- brain and spinal cord?

A
  • When explaining behaviour, the brain is seen as the main focus
  • This is seen to be the origin of how the world is seen and acted upon by an individual
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5
Q

In this approach, what are the basic assumptions of chemistry of the ‘body’?

A
  • In the body, there are varying levels of chemicals-> Neurotransmitters in the brain and hormones in the body
  • By biological psychologists, these are thought to relate to an individuals behaviour
  • To the environment, they are thought to influence reactions
  • Due to the progress of technology there is a rapidly advancing approach in psychology
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6
Q

Give examples of neurotransmitters

A

Dopamine, serotonin (influences mood), Melatonin (released from pineal gland, it is what makes you sleepy)

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7
Q

What are the two key words that help us to understand and explain how genetics can influence an individuals development?

A

Genotype

Phenotype

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8
Q

What is a genotype?

A

Individuals genetic make-up

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9
Q

Explain a genotype

A
  • For how an individual will develop, it provides a genetic code
  • 100,000 genes- makes up 1 individual
  • This dictates individuals characteristics- eye, hair colour
  • Everybody’s genotype is different except for MZ twins (identical)
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10
Q

What is a genotype?

A

Expression of genes and the environment

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11
Q

Explain a phenotype?

A
  • This is what is produced when an individuals genotype interacts with the environment
  • Occurs when. The genotype codes for the maximum possible height this certain individual can reach but, the phenotype i.e the environmental factors i.e nutrition will affect how likely a person is to actually reach that height

so, phenotype does not always reflect your genotype

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12
Q

Explain PKU as an example of a phenotype changing a genotype

A

This is a genetic disorder which if left untreated will eventually result in learning difficulties however, if they are given a special diet, the expression of learning difficulties will be prevented

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13
Q

What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

A

Genotype is fixed and a phenotype is malleable

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14
Q

When explaining the genetic basis of behaviour what do some geneticists and psychologists say about certain behaviours?

A

There may be a genetic underpinning

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15
Q

What is the name for identical twins?

A

Monozygotic

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16
Q

What is the name for non-identical twins?

A

Dizygotic

17
Q

Explain the likelihood of monozygotic and dizygotic twins having a behaviour/disorder

A

Monozygotic=100%

Dizygotic= 50%

18
Q

What is evolution ?

A

Transmission of genes from one generation to another over a significantly long period of time

19
Q

What is the idea of evolution and behaviour based around ? Explain this

A

Adaptiveness

A mutation occurs in the genetic make-up, which leads to a change in the behaviour or characteristics

20
Q

Explain the occurrence of mutations in the genetic make-up

A
  • Gene is not passed on if the change means survival/ chance of reproduction for organism are reduced
  • Genes are passed on if it increases the chance of survival and reproduction
  • For an individual, mutation has been adaptive as well as every chance of being adaptive for subsequent organisms
21
Q

What do biological psychologist believe about psychological characteristics ?

A

They believe that these characteristics such as intelligence and aggression were adaptive at the outset so, became part of evolutionary process

22
Q

Explain the evolutionary process

A

Takes many generations to happen so one behaviour becoming part of the genetic make-up of humans is lengthy

23
Q

Explain what biological psychologist believe about animal behaviour linked with human behaviour

A
  • Occurs in the same way

- If we examine non human behaviour, it is useful in looking at human behaviour

24
Q

What is said in terms of genetics as the same for behaviour?

A

We have a genetic mutation which makes us physically more able and attractive and therefore the mutation is adaptive

25
Q

Explain a behaviour that animals carry out which improves/increases survival

A

Aggression, as it increases access to resources, survival rates and helps territory protection- During mating, being aggressive ,makes you potentially more attractive, which increases chance of reproduction

26
Q

Explain how animals being aggressive and increasing survival works in the same way for humans in evolution

A

During ancestry it would be an advantage in survival and increasing the chances of reproduction for an individual, maybe due to being able to acquire resources which leads to family protection

To potential mates, this increases attractiveness so the genes are more likely to be passed on as more mates are available and receptive

So genetics could become more widespread as they have been passed on the the subsequent generations.

27
Q

Explain what has been found in the research into the eugenic basis of aggression

A

One third of men have the MAOA (i.e warrior gene) which is also found in murderes so, further research is trying to discover a potential genetic underpinning to aggressive and risk taking behaviour

28
Q

What are the key structures within systems which are useful in explaining behaviour and psychology of an individual?

A 
Nervous system 
           - central (CNS)
           - Peripheral (PNS)
Neuron 
Endocrine system
29
Q

How is the central nervous system used to explain the behaviour and psychology of individual ?

A

Made up of brain and spinal cord- Pivotal in message transferring to and from the environment
Many thing co-ordinated from here i.e breathing, eating, senses and heart beat
Due to most actions/reactions being generated from here, it is the main reason as to why biological psychologists look at the brain for behaviour

30
Q

What is a neuron?

A

Nerve cell which transfers information between the nervous system

31
Q

Why is the Peripheral nervous system important in explaining behaviour and psychology of an individual?

A

Its job is sending and receiving information to the CNS

Autonomic system- for individuals survival, and affect of reaction to threat with being able to bring the body back to normality after an acute reaction-> very important for ‘fight or flight’
For limbs it is the nervous system as it collects information from the environment in terms of temperature, pain and threat
System that compromises the muscles attached to the skeleton so is important in the somatic

32
Q

What is the endocrine system also known as?

A

Hormonal system

33
Q

Why is the endocrine system important in the biochemistry of the body?

A

Because the level of hormones the blood and the other bodily fluid are maintained by it via the glands

Most important gland is the master gland i.e the pituitary gland which is important in adrenaline release

34
Q

What are hormones ?

A

Chemicals that travel through the blood

35
Q

What is neurochemistry ?

A

Biochemistry of the nervous system
Chemicals throughout blood are hormones in brain chemical transmission is via the cerebral fluid

Chemicals = neurotransmitters

36
Q

What is the name of the chemical that travel around the body?

A

Neurotransmitters

37
Q

Why are neurotransmitters seen to be important by biological psychologists ?

A

Thought to affect behaviour

38
Q

What are the strengths of the biological approach ?

A

SCIENTIFIC - uses scientific methods these are largely objective e.g brain scanning + biochemical levels

NATURE - supports this as it suggests our biology i.e our genetics determine our behaviour

LEADS TO- biopsychology research can result in practical applications being developed e.g drugs that help the symptoms of people struggling with psychological problems

39
Q

What are the weaknesses of the biological approach?

A

SIMPListic - human behaviour is more complex than shown

REDUCTIONIST - break down the complexity of behaviour + explaining it in most smiliest form

A-level Psychology Miss Ladrook (13 decks)

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