biological approach assumptions, explaining behaviour Flashcards
what is assumption 1 of the biological approach?
evolutionary influences
what does to evolve mean?
to change with time
what does evolution explain?
how the human mind and behaviour has changed over time in order to ADAPT to the demands of an individuals environment
what is natural selection theory?
any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals chance of survival and reproduction will be naturally selected
when does natural selection occur and what’s an example of this?
at the level of any gene, e.g. altrustic behaviour which is where parents risk their lives to save their offspring
what would the theory of natural selection say about the trait of altruism?
that altruism is an adapted, inherited behaviour as saving ones offspring enhances the chance of survival of ones gene pool
what does EEA sand for and what is it?
the environment of evolutionary adaptiveness, the environment to which any species if adapted
what do evolutionary psychologists assume?
they don’t assume all forms of behaviour are adaptive only the ones that will ensure the the survival in that individuals particular environment
what is assumption 2 of the biological approach?
localisation of brain function
what does the localisation of brain function stand for?
that certain areas of the brain are responsible for certain functions
where does the cerebral cortex sit in the brain and what is it responsible for?
the cerebral cortex covers the brain like a tea cosy covers a tea pot, its responsible for higher order cognitive functions
what four regions are the cerebral cortex split into?
frontal lobe, pariteal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe- each lobe has specific functions
what is the function of the frontal lobe?
is involved in thinking and creativity and linked to our personalities
what is the function of the parietal lobe?
it receives sensory information such as temperature, touch and pain
what is the function of the temporal lobe?
responsible for memory processing and processing auditory information such as speech
what is the function of the occipital lobe?
concerned with visual processing and receives information directly from the eyes
how are the lobes positioned in the brain?
f P/T o
what is assumption 3 of the biological approach?
Neurontransmitters
what are neurons?
electrically excitable cells that form the basis of the neuron system
what are at the end of neurons and what do these do?
branches that are called dendrites, these mean that all the neurons can connect to one another
where does a neuron communicate with another?
at a synapse
what happens at a synapse?
a neuron communicates with another neuron and the message is relayed by chemical messengers (neurontransmitters)
what are chemical messengers also known as?
neurontransmitters
where are the neurontransmitters released from and what do they do?
there released from presynaptic vesicles in one neuron and they either inhibit or stimulate receptors in the other neuron
how big is the synaptic cleft/gap?
20 nanometres wide
what is serotonin linked with? what does too little serotonin cause?
mood, sleep and appetite, too little serotonin can cause depression
how do antidepressant medications work?
by increasing the availability of serotonin at the postsynaptic receptor sites
what has high levels of dopamine been linked with?
schizophrenia
what would a drug that blocks dopamine activity achieve?
the reduction of schizophrenia symptoms
what is the physiological approach in explaining behaviours?
the approach believes all behaviour is due to internal body parts e.g. brain, hormones, nervous system and chemicals
what is the nativist approach in explaining behaviours?
the assumption that all behaviour is inherited, behaviour is passed through our genes from one generation to the next
what is the medial model in terms of explaining behaviour?
the idea that psychological disorders have a physical cause and therefore can be dealt with by using physical methods
