BLOA Principles

Question 1

Principle 1

Answer 1

Emotions and behaviours are products of the anatomy and physiological of the nervous and endocrine system.

Question 2

Describe principle 1

Answer 2

This principle suggests that all behaviour, also internal mental activity of an individual can be traced back to physiological events. This is encouraged by research findings that there are biological correlates of behaviour. Links have been made in three main areas:
− The effects of neurotransmitters
− The effect of hormones
− The effect of brain localisation

Question 3

Explain which study supports principle 1

Answer 3

Baumgartner et al (2008).
They performed an experiment on the role of oxytocin in trust in economic behaviour.
The participants played a trust game where player 1 receives a sum of money and must decide whether to keep it or share it with player 2. If the sum is shared, then it is tripled. Then player two must decide whether to share or keep it. FMRI scans were taken of the participants and they were given either oxytocin or a placebo by nasal spray.
Participants played against different trustees and against a computer in a rick game. In 50% of the games their trust was broken. They received feedback on this from the experimenters during the games. They found that participants in the oxytocin group continued to invest at similar rates after receiving feedback on the breach of trust. This supports this principle because it was shown that there was a correlation between the behaviour of trust the physiology of levels of oxytocin.

Question 4

Principle 2

Answer 4

Patterns of behaviour can be inherited

Question 5

Describe principle 2

Answer 5

This idea is inspired by the work of Darwin. Two branches of scientific inquiry demonstrate this well. Evolutionary psychology and the study of genetics. They rely in the understanding of evolution, humans have changes physically and behaviourally to the demands of the environment. Genetic information is transferred from parents to children, overtime physical characteristics and behaviours that are helpful can be passed on.

Question 6

Explain which study supports principle 2

Answer 6

Bouchard et al (1990).
They performed the Minnesota twin study, a longitudinal study investigating the relative role of genes in IO. The participants were MZ reared apart (MZA) and MZ reared together (MZT). The researchers found that MZT had a concordance rate of IQ of 86% compared to MZA with a concordance rate of IQ of 76%. This supports this principle as it shows a link between genetic inheritance and intelligence however it does not rule out the role of the environment.

Question 7

Principle 3

Answer 7

Animal research may inform our understanding of behaviour

Question 8

Describe principle 3

Answer 8

One key assumption of the biological approach (Darwin’ work) is the idea that humans and animals are different species now because of thousands of years of evolutionary adaptation to environmental demands. It suggests that in some ways humans and animals are similar in anatomy and behaviour. Therefore, researchers use animals to study physiology and behaviour as it is assumed that we share most biological processes.

Question 9

Explain which study supports principle 3

Answer 9

Rosenweig et al (1972). They performed an experiment to study the role of environmental factors on neuroplasticity. Rats were used as the participants, group 1 was placed in an enriched environment with lots of toys, while group 2 was placed in a deprived environment with no toys. The rats spent 30-60 days in their retrospective environments before being killed. The rats in group 1 showed a thicker layer of neurons in the cortex compared to the deprived group. The study shows that the brain grows more neurons if stimulated. This study supports this principle as it showed the effect of the environmental factors on neuroplasticity in rats which can also be applied to human due to the suggesting that in some ways human and animals are similar in anatomy and behaviours.