assumption Flashcards
what are neurotransmitters
a type of chemical messenger. which transmit signals across a chemical synapse from one neuron to another ‘target’ neuron.
what is the role of a neurotransmitter
-they play a crucial role in the function of the central nervous system.
-they are the body’s chemical messengers, transmitting information between nerve cells or neurons.
what are some examples of neurotransmitters
serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
what do neurotransmitters allow to happen
make it possible for a signal to pass from one nerve end to another, continuing the signal pathway.
what is the consequence of there being an imbalance
disruptions or imbalances in neurotransmitter function can have profound effects on mental health and can lead to disorders such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
what is serotonin
serotonin is a neurotransmitter, that is closely related with mood regulation, and low levels have been linked to depression.
what is dopamine
dopamine is a neurotransmitter, that is involved in reward, motivation and the experience of pleasure, and has been associated with addiction, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease
what is norepinephrine related to
the flight or fight response in stressful situations relies on the release of norepinephrine
give an example of research done on neurotransmitters
the effects of neurotransmitters have been studied using drugs that boost or inhibit their function. for example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) increase serotonin availability in the brain to provide relief from depression.
what is evolutionary psychology
-a theoretical approach to psychology that attempts to explain mental and psychological traits.
- these traits are seen as the product of evolutionary processes and can include common phobias, language abilities and memory skills
what is natural selection
first proposed by charles darwin, it proposes that certain characteristics increase an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction. these traits are then more likely to be passed down.
what is sexual selection
also proposed by darwin, where traits that increase an individual’s chance of attracting a mate are passed on more frequently
what is the consequence of the process of natural selection and sexual selection.
behaviours and traits that increased the odds of survival and reproduction have become widespread within species.
what does evolutionary psychology propose
that our behaviour is heavily influenced by these evolved mental mechanisms or psychological adaptations.
give one example of evolutionary influences being applied to modern life.
many behaviours that have been advantages in the past may not be beneficial anymore. for example, thirst for fatty foods was useful when there wasn’t much food, however in todays society it is harmful.
what is the authenticity of goodness and excellence explanation
-embraces the belief in genuine human virtues, such as compassion, resilience and honesty and emphasizes the potential for excellence in human behaviour and character.
- positive psychologists identify these virtues as authentic and fundamental elements of human nature.
explain authenticity
refers to the degree of congruence between an individual’s actions, values and true self. it implies consistency between what one feels or believes and one’s actions.
what is the positive approaches attitudes towards human virtues
that they aren’t societal constructs, they are actually inherent traits that individuals can nurture and expand.
what does the authenticity approach promote
the idea that people are genuinely capable of goodness and that this capacity is not just a facade or social expectation.
what are three implications of authenticity of goodness and excellence
- appreciating authenticity encourages individuals to invest in cultivating virtues and positive strengths
- supports people to live in alignment with their values and convictions, which can contribute significantly to personal well-being, moral behaviour, and social cohesion
- believing in authenticity of goodness and excellence also implies everyone has the potential for personal growth and positive development
what is an example of authenticity of goodness and excellence in a applied context
the concept shapes many positive psychology interventions (PPIs), which involve training individuals to harness their inherent virtues for personal development
what is localisation of brain function
the concept that specific parts of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions
why is the localisation of brain function explanation important
it’s key to understanding a range of behaviours and cognitive processes in the bio approach to psychology
what is the frontal love responsible for
problem solving, decision making, conscious thought
what is the parietal lobe for
manages sensory information from various parts of the body
what is the occipital lobe responsible for
visual processing
what is the temporal lobes associated with
auditory processing and memory
explain phineas gage
had a spike driven through his skull and damaged his frontal lobe. after his personality considerably changed, which indicated that this part of the brain may control personality and social behaviour
what techniques are used in localisation of brain function
mri scans and fmri scans.
why is understanding localisation of brain function important
it’s been key in developing treatments for neurological disorders, such as parkinsons and types of aphasia
has also been applied to forensic psychology and understanding criminal behaviour
what does focus on the good life mean
positive psychologists want to help individuals and communities to lead fulfilling, satisfying and meaningful lives.
what does focus on the good life involve
the persuit of personal and social fulfillment, and the attainment of one’s potential
what are the traits in the focus on the good life approach
wisdom, courage, compassion and love
behaviour can be influenced by internal mental processes
believes that humans are information processors. these cognitive processes help us to interpret and respond to the environment appropriately
4 internal mental processes
- perception
- attention
- memory
- language
attention
we pay attention to the object (sensory stimuli)
memory
we search through our memory store to see if there is a match with something we have already seen or experienced
perception
the outcome of what we understand the object to be, based on attention and memory
language
we are able to use our knowledge of language to name it
internal mental processes example
visual perception, where we use our internal mental processes to make sense of what we are seeing.
visual illusions can trick the brain in terms of how we process what we see.
behaviour can be explained by schemas
- organisation of information in our minds
- they expand when we experience new things as we link concepts together
- helps us to interpret and react to the environment and predict what might happen next based on past experience
schemas example
allport and postman -
behaviour can be explained using the computer analogy
- cognitive psychologists often compare the human mind to a computer.
- compares how we take info (input), store it or change it (process), and then recall it when necessary (output)
3 memory stores
sensory memory
short term memory
long term memory
sensory memory
encodes all the sense
very large capacity
half a second duration
short term memory
encodes acoustically
30 seconds duration
long term memory
encodes semantically
unlimited capacity
lasts up to a lifetime
