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Psychology > Biological Approach > Flashcards

Biological Approach Flashcards

1
Q

Name:

The assumptions of the biological approach

A
  • Behaviour is influenced by the central nervous system, genes, and neurochemistry
  • Behaviour is a product of evolution
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2
Q

Define:

Neurochemistry

A
  • Substances naturally occuring in the brain
  • enable signals to be transmitted
  • imbalances associated with abnormal behaviour
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3
Q

Name:

Strengths of the biological approach

A
  • Children can show in/extroverted behaviour from birth
  • Introverts respond less to dopamine
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4
Q

Name:

Weaknesses of the biological approach

A
  • Personality may be learned through reinforcement/punishment
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5
Q

Define:

Genotype

A

Genetic makeup of an individual

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6
Q

Define:

Phenotype

A

Observable characteristics

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7
Q

Define:

SRY Gene

A

Part of the Y chromosome that causes development of male characteristics

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8
Q

Name:

Strengths of the influence of genes

A
  • Supports the idea of behaviour being a combination of nature + nurture
  • E.G. BRCA1 gene associated with breast cancer - not all carriers will get cancer
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9
Q

Name:

Weaknesses of the influence of genes

A
  • Some research oversimplifies the influence of genes
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10
Q

Name:

Neurotransmitters

A
  • Serotonin
  • Dopamine
  • Adrenaline
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11
Q

Name:

Hormones

A
  • Oxytocin
  • Cortisol
  • Testosterone
  • Oestrogen
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12
Q

Serotonin

A
  • controls and stabilises mood

Neurotransmitter

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13
Q

Dopamine

A
  • Movement, memory, pleasurable reward, motiation
  • increases muscle + heart contraction force

Neurotransmitter

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14
Q

Adrenaline

A
  • Secreted by brain + adrenal glands
  • Increases cardiac output
  • Raises blood glucose levels

Neurotransmitter

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15
Q

Oxytocin

A
  • Triggers labour and release of breast milk
  • Helps move sperm

Hormone

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16
Q

Cortisol

A
  • Made in adrenal glands
  • Managed by pituitary gland
  • Maintain blood pressure, immune function, anti-inflammatory processes
  • Maintains energy levels

Hormone

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17
Q

Testosterone

A
  • Development of male secondary sex characteristics

Hormone

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18
Q

Oestrogen

A
  • Development of female secondary sex characteristics
  • Regulates mensturation

Hormone

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19
Q

Define:

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemicals that carry messages across synapses in the brain

20
Q

Define:

Hormone

A
  • Chemicals secreted by glands
  • travel through the body in the blood
  • Create responses in organs
21
Q

Define:

Central nervous system

A
  • Made of brain + spinal cord
  • Control perception, thought processes, motor function
22
Q

Define:

Autonomic nervous system

A
  • Part of motor nervous system
  • Regulates involuntary processes
  • “Fight or flight”
  • Release adrenaline + cortisol
  • Sympathetic + parasympathetic
23
Q

Name:

The parts of the nervous system

A
  • Central
  • Peripheral
  • Motor
  • Autonomous
  • sympathetic + parasympathetic
24
Q

Define:

Peripheral nervous system

A

Nervous system in other parts of the body

25
Q

Define:

Motor nervous system

A
  • Controls movement
  • Contains ANS
26
Q

Define:

Neuroanatomy

A

The physical structure of the brain and nervous system

27
Q

Name:

The areas of the brain

A
  • Frontal lobe
  • Parietal lobe
  • Temporal lobe
  • Occipital lobe
  • Cerebellum
  • Brain stem
28
Q

Frontal lobe

A
  • Voluntary movement
  • Social skills
  • Higher cognitive function
  • Personality
29
Q

Parietal lobe

A
  • Sensory proccessing
  • Mathematics + Language
30
Q

Temporal lobe

A
  • Processing sound
  • Working memory
31
Q

Occipital lobe

A
  • Process vision
32
Q

Cerebellum

A
  • Muscle movement
  • Balance + coordination
33
Q

Brain stem

A

Vital functions for life

34
Q

Define:

Lateralisation

A

The functions of the brain are split between left and right

35
Q

Left hemisphere

A
  • Control right side of body
  • Analytical processes
  • Speech and language
36
Q

Right hemisphere

A
  • Control left side of body
  • Creativity
  • Recognition of faces
  • Spatial ability
37
Q

Define:

Neuroplasticity

A

The ability for the brain to change and adapt as a result of experiences by making new connections

38
Q

Strength of neuroanatomy

A
  • Explains how we are able to learn
  • Enables us to increase cognitive ability
  • Explains how brain can recover from injury
39
Q

Define:

Evolutionary psychology

A

How genes and behaviour have adapted over thousands of years

40
Q

Define:

Survival of the fittest

A

Individuals with the most suitable form or behavour survive within their enviroment and therefore reproduce

41
Q

Define:

Fight, flight, or freeze

A

Psychological response to threats by fighting, running or freezing

42
Q

Define:

Enviroment of evolutionary adaptation (EEA)

A

Habitat in which a species’ latest adaptations evolved

43
Q

EEA of humans

A

10,000 years ago

44
Q

Define:

Genome lag

A

Changes to the enviroment occur more rapidly than changes to genes

45
Q

Sex differences in jealousy

A
  • Pulse measured whilimagining emotional/sexual infidelity
  • Men more distressed ny sexual infidelity
  • Women more distressed by emotional infidelity

Psychology (6 decks)

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