Biological Approach (APPROACHES 2/6) Flashcards

1
Q

key assumptions

A

how think, feel and behaviour in terms of physical factors within body e.g. hormones, genetics, evolution, NS
nervous system (brain structure and neurochemistry)
genetics
brain main focus - mind as result of biological structures and processes
behaviour due to biology, can be modified using drugs
experimental evidence on animals inform about humans - share biological similarities

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2
Q

genetics

A

behaviour, personality, mental illness and intelligence due to inherited characteristics
half of genes from mother, half from father
some characteristics from one gene, some from combinations
genes control physical processes

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3
Q

dominant vs recessive genes

A

two of every gene (apart from X and Y chromosomes)
dominant = shows even if one copy
recessive = both genes must be recessive to show

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4
Q

genotype

A

actual set of genes an individual has
genetic material given by sperm and egg

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5
Q

phenotype

A

observable behavioural and physical characteristics of individual as consequence of genetics and environment

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6
Q

twin studies

A

method of investigating whether psychological characteristics have genetic basis
looking at concordance rates (likelihood if one has trait, the other will too)

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7
Q

monozygotic twins

A

identical
share 100% of DNA
would expect 100% concordance rates if behaviour or characteristic is genetic

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8
Q

dizygotic twins

A

non-identical
share 50% of DNA - like regular siblings
would expect 50% concordance rates if behaviour or characteristic is genetic

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9
Q

twin study example

A

Gottesman and Shields
compared MZ and DZ twins for schizophrenia
concordance rates much higher for MZ twins but not 100%, suggesting there are also environmental elements

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10
Q

adoption studies

A

twins often share same environment and genes
isolate influence of genes and environment
similarities with biological parent = genetic influence
similarities with adoptive parent = environmental influence

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11
Q

adoption study example

A

Heston
nature / nurture in schizophrenia
support genetic cause but environmental factors should not be ignored

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12
Q

nervous system

A

nervous system
peripheral central
autonomic somatic brain spinal cord
sympathetic, parasympathetic

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13
Q

CNS

A

all reactions pass through
simple, reflex actions go through spinal cord before brain processes

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14
Q

somatic nervous system

A

controls muscle movement, relays info from eyes, ears and skin to CNS

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15
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls involuntary bodily functions and regulates glands

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16
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

fight or flight response
activity increases when stressed, in danger or physically active

17
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

relaxes body after stress or danger
helps run life-sustaining processes e.g. digestion during safety and relaxation

18
Q

frontal lobe

A

consciousness and communication
memory and attention
motor control
problem solving

19
Q

parietal lobe

A

sensory perception

20
Q

occipital lobe

A

visual processing

21
Q

temporal lobe

A

auditory processing

22
Q

study of the brain

A

scans to examine patterns of brain activity and anatomical structure

23
Q

PET scans

A

radioactive chemical showing parts of brain are active when thinking about different things

24
Q

CAT scans

A

detected damaged structures of the brain by taking images

25
MRI scans
brain structure
26
fMRI scans
brain function / activity
27
neurochemistry
action of chemicals in the brain thoughts and behaviours rely on transmission of messages
28
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that travel between neurones via synapses excitatory NTs trigger nerve impulses in post-synaptic neurone and stimulate brain inhibitory NTs limit nerve impulses in post-synaptic neurone and have calming effect on brain
29
evolution
changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations gradual development of different kinds of living organisms from earlier forms during the history of the earth Charles Darwin emphasises that evolution happens by natural and sexual selection --> the process in which organisms better adapted to their environment are healthier, live longer and reproduce more frequently, passing on the genes that made them reproductively fit onto their offspring
30
natural selection
animals with particular traits that provide them with an advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing on their adaptive traits to their offspring
31
sexual selection
acts on ability to obtain or successfully copulate with a male makes organisms go to extreme lengths for sex ;) e.g. peacocks maintain elaborate tails
32
biological approach strengths
scientific and objective methods use brain scanning techniques e.g. PET, CT and MRI scans used to measure brain function or structure objective measure and data, not open to interpretation more likely to be valid and reliable data real life applications useful to society knowledge of brain structures and function has enable treatment to be developed to assist people lead to greater understanding of brain abnormality and associated behaviour enable people to live a more normal life highly applicable
33
biological approach weaknesses
reductionist only focuses on biological constructs linked to behaviour explains behaviour through genetics / hormones ignores environmental influences e.g. social factors and upbringing would explain depression through inherited genes and fault neurotransmitters rather than environmental factors such as lack of support or friends too simplistic to suggest behaviour only influence by biology lacks validity cause and effect assumes behaviour is result of biological causes treatments development may be limited e.g. focus on drugs for depression treatment may not be fully effective, not based on singular cause limited applicability nature / nurture sees biology as only cause to behaviour and ignores environmental influence - only nature ignores nurture or combination difficult to separate effects decreases validity deterministic assumes that genes or brain structures determine how we behave takes away element of free will to behaviour social responsibility