Biological Approach Flashcards
What is assumption1 of the biological approach?
Behaviour can be explained by neurotransmitters
Neurons
-b
-assumption 1
process/transmit neurotransmitters through chemical signals
Synaptic transmission
-b
-assumption 1
Neurotransmitter released from presynaptic vesicle
Serotonin
-b
-assumption 1
mood, sleep, appetite
increase serotonin uptake to help with depression
Dopamine
-b
-assumption 1
schizophrenia symptoms
drugs can decrease the level
What is assumption 2 of the biological approach?
Localisation of brain function
Frontal lobe
-b
-assumption 2
BROCAS AREA
X fine motor skills, personality changes
- Broca’s aphasia
= THINKING
Temporal lobe
-b
-assumption 2
WERNICKE’S AREA
X trouble understanding
X change in emotional state#
= SPEECH
Occipital lobe
-b
-assumption 2
X perception issues, blind spots
= VISUAL INFO
Parietal lobe
-b
-assumption 2
X numb, tingling, don’t feel pain
= PAIN- SENSORY INFO
Example
-b
-assumption 2
PHINEAS GAGE
- damage to frontal lobe
- personality changed
- memory and cognitive strength not altered
What is assumption 3 of the biological approach?
Evolutionary influences
Evolutionary influences
-b
-assumption 3
- genotype is changeable
- caused by the process of natural selection
- survival, mating, phobias
Charles Darwin
-b
- assumption 3
> genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival will be naturally selected
inherited traits–> Nyctophobia (fear of the dark)
EEA- Environment of Evolutionary Adaptiveness
-b
-assumption 3
species adapt due to selective pressure
- large brains#
- form alliances & relationships
What is the therapy for the biological approach?
Drug therapy
Component 1 of drug therapy
Antipsychotic drugs
Antipsychotic drugs
Conventional
C1
(chlorpromazine)
- binds to dopamine receptors and blocks them
- this decreases the flow of dopamine so it doesn’t stimulate
X confusion
X Tardive Dyskinesia - uncontrollable, irregular movements
Antipsychotic drugs
Atypical
C1
(clozapine)
- temporarily blocks receptor sites so they disassociate with the normal dopamine flow
X blurred vision, tiredness
Component 2 of Drug Therapy
Antidepressant drugs
Antidepressant drugs
Selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitors
C2
(prozac)
- bind to post-synaptic receptor site in neuron
- stops reuptake of serotonin so that less is absorbed
- more serotonin builds up in the synaptic cleft
- more becomes available within the brain
X nausea, weight gain, fatigue, symptoms worsen, dizziness
Component 3 of drug therapy
Anti-anxiety drugs
Anti-anxiety drugs
Benzodiazepines
C3
(valium)
- slows CNS activity
- enhance GABA
X confusion, drowsiness, lightheaded
Anti-anxiety drugs
Beta- Blockers
C3
- binds to receptors in aroused areas and block them
- slows their function
-heart rate, blood pressure decreases - less anxious
X confusion, drowsiness, lightheaded
APPLYING ASSUMPTION TO DRUG THERAPY
-b
1) inhibit reuptake of serotonin to treat behaviour
2) BZs target the limbic system to decrease the effect of the CNS
3) Anti-anxiety drugs treat it as a physical problem due to genetics
Effectiveness of drug therapy
👍RESEARCH SUPPORT
KAHN
- benzodiazepines are more effective than placebos
Effectiveness of drug therapy
👍COMPARISONS TO OTHER THERAPIES
- less time and motivation needed
- cheap and practical
Effectiveness of drug therapy
X TREAT SYMPTOMS NOT CAUSE
- revolving door syndrome
- come of drugs and go back to normal
- go back on drugs again
Effectiveness of drug therapy
X NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS
SOOMRO
- nausea, hallucinations
Effectiveness of drug therapy
X RESEARCH AGAINST
KORAN
- its only a temporary fix and the problem will come back once you stop taking the drug treatment
Ethics of drug therapy
👍PROTECTION FROM HARM
- only way to improve or access CBT
- target and treats mental health issues
Ethics of drug therapy
X USE OF PLACEBOS ON THE MENTALLY ILL
- exposed to harm
- less effective
Ethics of drug therapy
X INFORMED CONSENTT ON INFO ABOUT DRUGS
- the people given drugs may not be in the right mindset to say know or understand what they are taking
- doctors may withhold info or not give specific details of the drug
What are the aims of Drug Therapy?
to manipulate patients bodily processes with the goal of reducing symptoms of their mental health disorder
What was the research conducted for the biological approach?
RAINE- brain abnormalities between NGRI murderers and non-murderers
What were the aims of Raine’s research?
-B
- look at direct measures of cortical and subcortical brain functioning in PET scans
- murderers would show evidence of brain dysfunction in prefrontal cortex and other areas linked to violent behaviour
> on cortical = surface
> below cortical = centre
METHODOLOGY
Raine’s research
-B
> quasi- PET scan
matched pairs design
opportunity sampling
82Ps (34.3 yrs mean age)
6 schizophrenic, 3 substance abuse
IV 41 murderers- 2 women
DV ‘normal’ adults
PROCEDURE
Raine’s research
-B
1) inject radioactive tracer
2) Continuous performance task to target areas of brain
3) practise CPT
4) start CPT 30 seconds before injecting tracer
5) PET 32min after injection
-6 cortical, 8 subcortical
6) PET scans compared murderers vs non-murderers
FINDINGS
Raine’s research
-B
1) Prefrontal cortex lower- rational decision making
2) Right amygdala increased activity - aggression
3) Temporal lobe - stayed the same
4) No behavioural difference on CPT
5) 23 head injury, 6 left handed
CONCLUSIONS
Raine’s research
-B
1) Reduced activity in areas of the brain associated with violence
2) Biology alone cannot be used alone to explain violent predispositions
3) Findings are specific to NGRI murderers only
Evaluation of methodology and procedures
👍STANDARDISED PROCEDURES
-b
- controlled variables
- high internal validity
-see while Ps participate
Evaluation of methodology and procedures
👍PET SCANS
-b
- objective measurement of brain activity
Evaluation of methodology and procedures
👍MATCHED PAIRS DESIGN
-b
- age, sex, MH
- confounding variables are prevented
X participant variables
Evaluation of methodology and procedures
X SAMPLE (NGRI MURDERERS)
-b
- can’t be generalised to other criminals as these specifically pleaded guilty due to MH issues
- this overlooks other criminals
Ethics evaluation of Raine’s research
X VALID CONSENT
-b
- used vulnerable people so it is unfair to give them a PET scan
- they may not understand and it may not have been thoroughly explained to them
Ethics evaluation of Raine’s research
X RIGHT TO WITHDRAW
-b
- was it clear they could say no?
- did they understand what it was about?
Ethics evaluation of Raine’s research
X PROTECTION FROM HARM
- b
- kept on medication 2 weeks prior
- may have effected their self-esteem
Social implications of Raine’s research
👍COULD BE USED TO IDENTIFY CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR BEFORE IT OCCURS
-b
This prevents harem to the public and could help prevent people with those biological tendencies to be violent from being convicted criminals
Social implications of Raine’s research
X EFFECTS ON JUDICIAL SYSTEM
-b
- criminals are born not made
- no free will over behaviour
- not blamed as they cannot help it
- not imprisoned putting others at risk
Social implications of Raine’s research
X SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY
-b
- treated differently
- may cause them to behave more abnormal if they are marginalised
Social implications of Raine’s research
X DENEID POSITION/JOBS
-b
-face discrimination
-judged rather than helped
-lower quality of life
Alternative evidence for Raine’s research
👍RAINE AND YANG(2009)
-b
- found the same results linking brain activity to violence
Alternative evidence for Raine’s research
👍TIIHOEN ET AL (2015)
-b
MAOA & and increase in committing crimes
( brain structure of criminal behaviour)
- biological make up and predisposition to criminal behaviour
Alternative evidence for Raine’s research
X JAMES FALLON
-b
- measured his own brain activity and found that his genes were linked to violent behaviour and he was not a criminal
What is the debate for the biological approach?
Is it ethical to use biological psychology?
What is theme 1 of the biological debate?
The potential to cure disease
Theme 1: potential to cure disease FOR argument
b
MAYBURG ET AL
- SSRIs treatment for depression, 4/6 with severe depression had dramatically reduced symptoms
SI- less ill people, more fit to work, less benefits claimed and higher contribution to economy
- improves our quality of life and understanding of the brain
Theme 1: to cure disease AGAINST argument
b
FURGOSON ET AL- side effects
- electrodes dislodged in deep brain stimulation
- causes a bleed on the brain
- 2X more likely to commit suicide
SI- people lose their loved ones and end up in the same cycle due to having mental health issues due to the death
- worse than original disorder they wanted to treat
What is theme 2 of the biological debate?
Enhance neurological function
Theme 2: enhance neurological function FOR argument
b
KADOSH ET AL
- improve problem solving, language, memory and attention
- small electrical currents pass through specific parts of the brain
EI- improve results and performance on exams, get higher paying jobs
- improve their quality of life
Theme 2 : enhance neurological function AGAINST argument
b
COHEN KADOSH- ethical issues
- no licensing rules for practitioners- underqualified
- high risk of physical harm= brain damage
SI- not all people can access financially, compensation for those who have suffered from brain damage
- unethical, serious harm
What is theme 3 of the biological debate?
Treat criminal behaviour
Theme 3 : treat criminal behaviour FOR argument
b
CHEREK ET AL/ RAINE
- rehabilitate offenders and prevent offenses
C- Men with a history of criminal behaviour had reduced aggression levels after taking anti depressants
SI- criminal justice system, safer streets less recidivism
R- determine regions of brain affected
Theme 3 : treat criminal behaviour AGAINST argument
b
FARAH/RAINE
F- no freedom to exert free will, vulnerable- informed consent
R- removed from society, give ‘compulsory treatment’ just based on brain structure- self fulfilling prophecy
SI- too reliant on brain scans, compensation to those wrongly convicted
- economic problems
Is the biological approach deterministic or free will?
Deterministic
Deterministic
b
X humans have no free will
X therapist has control over the medication
X can’t take blame- can’t help their biological makeup
X can’t take responsibility for behaviour
Is the biological approach reductionist of holistic?
Reductionist
Reductionist
b
X reduce behaviour to physical factors
X antipsychotics to treat SZ- suggesting cause is neurotransmitters (SSRIs)
X ignores trauma or lifestyle
How is the biological approach applied?
CHEREK ET AL
- aggression lowered in criminal behaviour after a 21 day course of SSRIs
- allows them to lead a relatively normal life
- practical social implications
- criminals who have undergone drug therapy have a lower rate of reoffending= a safer society
Is the biological approach idiographic or nomothetic?
Nomothetic
Nomothetic
b
- apply laws to all human behaviour
- RAINE- criminal B- brain abnormalities
- biological issue with the brain
- reduce crime rates
- reoffending criminals
Is the biological approach nature or nurture?
Nature
Nature
b
- behaviour has a physical/ biological cause
- brain lobes are responsible for behaviour and mental health is due to neurotransmitters
- pinpoint specific places to improve, study and treat
Is the biological approach scientific or unscientific?
Scientific
Scientific
b
- create hypothesis, use objective methods
RAINE- made observations on brain differences between murds and non-murds - psychology- trusted discipline
- upholds scientific standards
