biological approach Flashcards
What is the biological approach overall??
The biological approach combines psychology and biology to provide psychological explanations for human behaviour
What are neurochemicals
Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological/physiological functioning
What are the psychologists studying the biological approach interested in?
They’re trying to determine and provide evidence for the extent to which behaviours, or a characteristic such as intelligence are the product of inheritance (genes), or environmental influences
What are some of the methods for investigating the genetic basis of behaviour
- twin studies
- family studies
- adoption studies
- selective breeding
Describe why twin studies are an investigation of the genetic basis of behaviour
Monozygotic (MZ) - one zygote in which twins are formed when a fertilised cell splits into two and forms two separate embryos
Dizygotic (DZ) - two zygotes in which twins are formed when two separate eggs both become fertilised by different sperm cells
What are concordance rates
This refers to the extent to which a pair of twins share similar traits of characteristics
What are family studies
Any resemblance between family relatives could be a result of genes
What did Galton say and when to slightly back up family studies?
1869 - ‘all natural abilities are inherited’ - but he later had to agree that any resemblance between the relatives could be genes or a shared environment
What are adoption studies
These studies involve comparing a trait or characteristic between adopted children and their biological or adopted parents
What is selective breeding
This method involves artificially selecting male and female animals for a particular trait and then these animals are then put together in order to breed and produce offspring
What is a factor that is inherited through genes?
Intelligence is an example of a study that suggests that certain behaviours are genetically determined
What has selective breeding shown?
That a number of behavioural characteristics for example aggression can have a genetic basis
What is the difference between genes and the observable characteristics (phenotype and genotype)
Genes only determine the potential for characteristics (genotype) whereas the observable characteristics of an individual depend on the interaction of genetic and environmental factors(phenotype)
Quick question: Homozygous and heterozygous what genes do they entail?
Homo (hahaaa) - Bb (different)
Hetero (like elishka…. not for margot) - BB
How are identical twins a good example of interaction between inheritance and environment
- They have the same genetic makeup and they look alike but they possess different phenotypes
- Twins are genetically the same - any differences you may see between them such as personality and tastes are due to differences in their experience of environment
What were the two main concepts in Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory
- natural selection
- sexual selection
What is natural selection
-Animals with particular traits that provide them will an advantage are more likely to adapt and survive and pass on those surviving characteristics to their children
What is natural selection
-Animals with particular traits that provide them will an advantage are more likely to adapt and survive and pass on those surviving characteristics to their children
What are the three principles for animals adapting to the environment
- the principle of diversity: the variety within a species
- the principle of interaction: which is how this variety of species adapt and fit in with the environment e.g. animals that breathe air wouldn’t be able to live underwater permanently
- the principle of differential amplification: those who adapt to their environment will reproduce and those that do not will die out
HAVE FUN LEARNING THAT- AND YES I AM MOCKING YOU THROUGH THE SCREEN :))
What is sexual selection
- males have abundance of sperm and can reproduce with as many females as they wish
- females however, are limited by the amount of eggs she produces and the fact that she has to carry the baby for 9 months and then raise it until the age of 18
- females therefore will be more particular about who fathers their children due to the investment they have to make
What are the research methods used for this approach?
The most common methods include laboratory experiments and observations and objective brain recording and scanning techniques are also used
Who was Phineas Gage and when was his accident
1848
Rod through the head, personality changes
What is a PET scan?
Positron emission tomography - shows which pattern of the brain are active during a task
What is a CAT scan
Detects damaged parts of the brain, tumors and blood clots
