biological approach Flashcards
one assumption linked to evolutionary influences
evolutionary influences have a part to play in determining our behaviour
who is the theorist behind this assumption
Charles Darwin
what did Charles Darwin propose
he proposed natural selection and explained how some individuals have traits which will allow them to respond to the demands of their environment. these individuals have a greater chance of survival and will pass on their genes to future generations
how has this evolutionary process impacted human behaviour
traits which enhance survival (heights) will become more prevalent in the gene pool, will have passed on over many generations and still affect behaviour.
what’s an example of evolutionary influences/natural selection of human behaviour
through phobias
ancestors who responded to certain environmental threats (heights, darkness, predators) with fear would have a greater chance of survival and as a result passed on these fears to their offspring.
difference between modern day phobias and ancestral fears
they are more exaggerated
what is believed about natural selection
that all species evolved naturally through this process
explain the process of natural selection
suggests that ones environment exerts pressure on an individual to separate those who do not fit into the environment and those that do.
those with advantageous traits are selected whereas traits that inhibit survival would die out. (survival of the fittest)
what happens to organisms that have advantageous genes
the will pass on their genes during reproduction
name of treatment
Drug therapy
3 types of drugs
anti-psychotics
anti-depressants
anti-anxiety
what do anti-psychotics do
they block the action of the neurotransmitter dopamine by binding to but not stimulating dopamine receptor sites
what are conventional antipsychotics used for
they are used to primarily treat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions/hallucinations)
what do conventional anti-psychotics do
they block the action if the neurotransmitter dopamine by binding to, but not stimulating dopamine receptor sites
an example of atypical antipsychotic drugs
clozaril
how do atypical anti-psychotic drugs work
act by only temporarily occupying dopamine receotir and then rapidly disassociating to allow normal transmission
what is the benefit of atypical anti-psychotics
they have reduced levels of side effects (e.g tardive dyskinsia) compared to conventional antipsychotics
what is tardive dyskinsia
involuntary movement of the mouth and tounge
how do anti-depressant drugs work
they work to either by reducing the rate of reabsorption or by blocking the action of the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters. these both increase the amount of neurotransmitter available to excite neighbouring cells
most common anti-depressant drugs
SSRI’s
Prozac
how does prozac work
they work by blocking the transporter mechanism that reabsorbs seretonin. as a result, more of the seretonin is left in the synapse, prolonging it’s activity and making transmission of the next impulse easier.
what do anti-depressant drugs work to do
reduce the symptoms of depression by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin
2 tyoes of anti-anxiety drugs
Benzodiazepines
how do benzodiazepines work
they’re used to reduce anxiety. sold under various names (valium) they slow down the activity of the central nervous system by enhancing the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitters that when released has a general calming effect on many of the neurons in the game