BIOLOGICAL: assumptions & relationships Flashcards
What is the biological approach?
An approach that gives a physiological/medical explanation for behaviour
What does the theory of evolution explain?
How human mind and behaviour has changed over millions of years and adapted to the demands of the environment. Two ways this occurs is natural selection and EEA.
Explain the theory of natural selection
NS suggests that genetically determined behaviours that improve an individuals chance of survival and reproduction are naturally selected and then those genes are passed onto the next generation. These characteristics are adaptive and allow offspring an advantages over others.
Define EEA
Environment of evolutionary adaptiveness - the environment a species have adapted to and the form of behaviour they have adapted to ensure survival in the particular environment.
EXAMPLE: male-female attraction
Men prefer young women rather than old women (fertility to produce offspring), women with wide hips (child bearing), and women with full lips and big eyes. Don’t want an ugly baby - sexy son hypothesis.
What is the cerebral cortex?
Part that covers the brain and is responsible for higher thought, language and ability to reason.
Frontal lobe
-front of brain, behind forehead
-responsible for problem solving, decision making and motor skills and overrides the natural instinct to stay in line with social norms.
Parietal lobe
-middle section of brain, behind frontal lobe
-responsible for sensory processes such as pain, touch, and the ability to feel temperature
Occipital lobe
-back of brain
-responsible for interpreting visual stimuli and information like identifying colours
Temporal lobe
-bottom section of brain on both sides
-responsible for auditory information such as sounds and different languages
-learning and feeling
-products the hippocampus (memory)
Research on localisation of language: the broca and wernicke
-broca: speech production
-wernicke: language comprehension
EXAMPLE: sexual desire evidence in OFC
-viewing an attractive face raises action in the OFC
-Ishai 2007 found that it did raise action, thus proving that the brain play a role in the formation of sexual relationships
-OFC is located in frontal lobe and is involved in impulse control and response inhibition
Describe neurons
Cells that transmit electrical signals throughout the body forming the basis of the nervous system.
What are neurotransmitters?
-chemical messengers that pass signals from the presynaptic neuron across the synapse and to the postsynaptic neuron
-stimulate or inhibit the receptors
-ie. Dopamine, seretonin
Describe dopamine
-neurotransmitter that controls bodily movements and emotional processes, impacting mood, sleep, memory and learning
-high levels associated with schizophrenia
Describe seretonin
-neurotransmitter that impacts emotion and motor skills. It supports sleeping, eating and digestion
-low levels are linked to depression
EXAMPLE: male attraction
-Cacioppo (2012) determined the roots of male attraction by scanning men in an FMRI whilst they views pics of women - released dopamine when attractive face.
-Aron et al (2008) concluded that dopamine plans a significant role in arousal
How does the evolutionary theory impact the formation of relationships?
- Trivers claimed that the formation of romantic relationships is driven by evolution, specifically how each partner has a different level of investment in their offspring.
- traits which enhance reproduction are naturally selected
Females in romantic relationships
-carry offspring and thus have a larger investment
-want a mate who can provide resources for their offspring
-power, protection (ambition, shelter, good job)
-very picky
Males in romantic relationships
-mate as often as possible in order to pass on genes
-young, fertile women with child bearing hips, big boobs and attractive faces
-less investment as no responsibility once the woman is impregnated
Beliefs of Symons and Williams
-Symons: men look for women with high reproductive value - many children over a long period of time
-Williams: men look for women with high fertility that can also look after themselves/their offspring
Influence of the localisation of brain function on formation of romantic relationships
-OFC located at front of brain and involved in impulse control and response inhibition
-decides whether to act on stimulus
-Little et al (2011) found observing attractive forces raise activity in OFC for both men and wome
Influence of neurotransmitters on formation of relationships
-oxytocin hormone acts as a chemical messenger linked to pregnancy and birth behaviours
-those with high levels of oxytocin are more nurturing
-skin-to-skin contact after births releases oxytocin and forms a relationship between mother and child
Phineas Gage
- metal rod through head causing damage to left frontal lobe
-changed his personality - lack of inhibition, decision making and emotional processing
- social impairment
- said to be completely different person
