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Biological Approach Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the biological approach?

A

Combines psychology with biology to provide physiological explanations for human behaviour.
Internal physical factors that determine behaviour.

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2
Q

Why do psychologists investigate the genetic base for behaviour?

A

Psychologists are interested in 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.

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3
Q

What are genes?

A

Inherited from parents can determine IQ, behaviour, personality + neurotransmitters. Genes carry instructions for characteristics- the potential for traits.

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4
Q

What is heritability?

A

Amount of variation in a trait(behaviour) within a population that can attributed to genetic differences.
-more a trait influenced by genetic factors= greater the heritability

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5
Q

What are the two different types of twins?

A

Mz Identical twins- 100% shared genetic makeup. -monozygotic
Non-identical-50% shared. -dizygontic, shared womb environment.

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6
Q

Why do psychologists study Mz identical twins?

A

Genes predispose us to develop particular behaviours. - shared 100% genetic makeup therefore can determine if behaviour is only down to genetics.

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7
Q

What is concordance?

A

the expected trait for monozygotic twins.

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8
Q

What is a study for genetics?

A

Bouchard’s twin research.

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9
Q

What did Bourchard’s research suggest about genes?

A

genes influence smaller traits- eg. preferences. The case of the Jim twins.

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10
Q

What is suggested about biological structures?

A

The functions of the abrin are localised.
Particular structured affect(regulate) particular behaviours.

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11
Q

What are the characteristics controlled by the frontal lobe?

A

Thinking, memory, behaviour and movement.

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12
Q

What are the characteristics controlled by the temporal lobe?

A

Hearing, learning and thinking.

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13
Q

What are the characteristics controlled by the parietal lobe?

A

Language and touch.

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14
Q

What are the characteristics controlled by the occipital lobe?

A

Sight.

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15
Q

What are the characteristics controlled by the cerebellum?

A

Balance and coordination.

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16
Q

What are the characteristics controlled by the brain stem?

A

Breathing, heart rate and temperature.

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17
Q

What is the case of Phineas Gage and what did it suggest about the brain?

A

Rod blew through brain.
Personality was changed by brain damage.
Pre- nice+ameable
Post- aggressive+mean

18
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemicals in the brain that are passed on through synaptic transition- give balance to certain behaviours.

19
Q

What is serotonin?

A

Mood regulation, calming effect/stabilise mood.

20
Q

What do too low levels cause?

A

Depression, OCD.

21
Q

What variant gene will predispose you to low levels of serotonin?

A

SERT gene.

22
Q

What is dopamine?

A

Pleasure

22
Q

What variant gene will predispose you to high levels of dopamine?

A

COMT gene.

23
Q

What do too high levels cause?

A

OCD, schizophrenia.

23
Q

What is melatonin?

A

A sleep hormone.

24
Q

What do too low levels cause?

A

Insomnia.

25
Q

How are neurotransmitters and hormones released?

A

Biological rhythms.

26
Q

How is optimal behaviour reached?

A

Need balance to biological rhythms- homeostasis.

27
Q

Define genotype.

A

Genetic makeup- genes you inherit.
-only determine the potential for particular characteristics.
-genes carry information in the form of DNA.

28
Q

Define phenotype.

A

Observable characteristics of an individual.
-depends on interactions with genetics and environment.

29
Q

What is suggested if Mz twins, who share 100% identical genetic makeups, have different phenotypes?

A

Influenced by different factors of the environment.
eg. one twin has a higher IQ than the other.

30
Q

Define evolution.

A

Changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.

31
Q

What are Darwin’s two main concepts?

A

Natural selection
Sexual selection

32
Q

What is natural selection?

A

The principle that any behaviour that benefits a species, and helps it survive and reproduce, will continue in future generations. Selection occurs because traits are desirable and give species an advantage.

33
Q

What are examples of beneficial behaviour that humans still have?

A

Ability to read body language, fear of spiders. - survival instincts.

34
Q

What is ‘survival of the fittest’?

A

Animals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on traits.

35
Q

Example of advantageous behaviour.

A

Attachments. Born with the drive to attach an emotional bond with an adult caregiver. For survival, tend to us/ keep us safe.
-Cry (social release), remind adult to care.

36
Q

What are the research methods used?

A

Concepts of hard science, research highly scientific in nature.
Common methods- laboratory experiments+observations. Objective brain recording and scanning techniques.

37
Q

What are the positives of this approach?

A

Scientific approach- cause and effects found.
Lead to treatments, eg. drugs to counteract neurotransmitter imbalance.
Scientific methods it uses are able to find reliability and viability.
Use of complex machinery= accurate+precise.

38
Q

What are the negatives of this approach?

A

States no free will- offensive if overrides because suggests mental illnesses are choice.
Search for ‘criminal gene’- always searching for biological reasoning. -ethical issues, treat everyone with genes like criminals.
Lab experiments lack ecological values.

Psychology (10 decks)

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