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Psychology: Approaches > Biological Approach > Flashcards

Biological Approach Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the key assumptions of the biological approach.

A
  • There is a direct correlation between brain activity and cognition
  • Biochemical imbalances can affect behaviour
  • Brain physiology can affect behaviour
  • Behaviour can be inherited (as it is determined by genetic information)
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2
Q

What are genes?

A
  • Make up chromosomes and consists of DNA which codes for physical and psychological features
  • Can be passed from parent to offspring
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3
Q

What are twin studies?

A

Researchers compare behavioural traits of twins to evaluate the degree of genetic and environmental influence on a specific trait

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4
Q

What are monozygotic twins?

A

Identical twins , 1 egg and 1 sperm split into two

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5
Q

What are dizygotic twins?

A

Fraternal twins , 2 eggs and 2 sperm

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6
Q

What is a concordance rate?

A

The extent to which both twins share the same characteristics (scale from 0-1)

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7
Q

What concordance rate do monozygotic twins have?

A

1 (100%)

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8
Q

What concordance rate do dizygotic twins have?

A

0.5 (50%)

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9
Q

Name the concordance rate statistics found by Bouchard and McGue when comparing IQ of family members.

A

MZ raised together - 0.86
MZ raised apart - 0.72
DZ raised together - 0.60
Siblings raised together - 0.47
Siblings raised apart - 0.24
Cousins - 0.15

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10
Q

Name the concordance rates found by Raine when looking at the delinquent behaviour of twins.

A

MZ twins - 0.52
DZ twins - 0.21

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11
Q

What are family studies?

A

A study to see if a particular trait or characteristic carries a genetic basis through family generations

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12
Q

What are adoption studies?

A
  • Comparing characteristics between their biological and adoptive parents
  • Investigates whether a trait / characteristic is inherited or influenced by the environment
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13
Q

What is selective breeding?

A
  • Artificially selecting desired characteristics from male + female
    animals
  • These two are then bred together to create offspring with these desired characteristics
  • Demonstrates how a number of behavioural characteristics have a genetic basis
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14
Q

What is a genotype?

A

The genetic code for a specific gene

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15
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

The observable characteristics of an organism when genetics and the environment are combined

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16
Q

What is the nature v nurture debate?

A

Relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to individual’s traits

17
Q

What is evolution?

A

The change in the inherited characteristics of biological populations over successive generations

18
Q

Who created the theory of evolution?

A

Charles Darwin

19
Q

What is natural selection?

A

Organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring where these characteristics are passed to their offspring

20
Q

What is sexual selection?

A

Mode of natural selection relating to a competition for mates and the development of characteristics that ensure reproductive success

21
Q

Name the lobes of the brain.

A

Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal

22
Q

Name the areas of the brain.

A

Visual
Auditory
Somatosensory
Broca’s
Wernicke’s
Motor

23
Q

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

A

Personality
Motor skills
Speech production (Broca’s area)

24
Q

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

A

Auditory processing
Language

25
Q

What is the function of the parietal lobe?

A

Touch perception
Body orientation

26
Q

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

A

Visual processing

27
Q

What is the function of the brainstem?

A

Involuntary responses

28
Q

What is the function of the cerebellum?

A

Balance and coordination

29
Q

Which areas match up to which lobe?

A

Visual -> Occipital
Auditory -> Temporal
Somatosensory -> Parietal
Broca’s + Motor -> Frontal

30
Q

What was Allen et al. (2007)?

A

An experiment done where a lower activity was found in the temporal lobe of those participants with schizophrenia

31
Q

Who was Phineas Gage?

A

Railroad worker in the 1800s, suffered brain damage in prefrontal cortex. His case led to the discovery of the role of the frontal lobe in personality

32
Q

What is neurochemistry?

A

Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

33
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap during synaptic transmission

34
Q

What are the 2 types of neurotransmitters?

A

Inhibitory and Excitatory

35
Q

What are the strengths of the biological approach?

A
  • Methods are objective leading to high reliability
  • Real life application which lead to drug treatment for mental health + improved quality of life for those with mental health conditions
36
Q

What are the weaknesses of the biological approach?

A
  • Abnormalities are portrayed as a causes of imbalances of neurotransmitters, however, this approach fails to consider other factors
  • Biologically deterministic , fails to consider free will in cases such as crime because this approach believes in the influence of pre determined genes
  • In family / twin studies , it is difficult to separate the nature vs nature debate due to the similar environmental conditions they grew up in

Psychology: Approaches (7 decks)

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