Intro to Biological Psychology Flashcards
What does biological psychology focus on mainly?
On genes, characteristics that have been inherited, and on how the brain works.
What does biological psychology examine in detail?
The structure and function of the brain, and how drugs affect transmission.
This chapter looks at how our biological self affects?
Our behaviour.
What is the ‘biological self’?
The brain & body.
What is psychology about?
People, and it includes aspects of how the brain works, as well as how social and environmental influences affect our behaviour.
What does the biological approach look at?
Chemical activity in the brain, inclusing how neurotransmitters act at synapses to enable messages to be transmitted.
Another way that messages are transmitted is…
… by hormones.
The biological approach includes an evolutionary perspective.
What does this examine?
It examines how characteristics are inherited via genes.
Breifly explain the functioning of neurotransmitters.
One way messages are passed within the brain is by neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that pass from neuron to neuron. Between neurons, there are gaps called synapses. If the receptors of one neuron are set to receive the neurotransmitters of another, then the message continues.
Breifly explain hormonal transmission.
Hormonal transmission is another way that messages are passed through the brain. They send messages more slowly than neurotransmitters and are used for different purposes.
What is the significance of hormones?
They have a large part to play in our development as either male or female. For example, ‘androgens’ are male hormones & oestrogen is a female hormone.
What can hormones underpin?
Aggressive behaviour.
What are the 4 aspects of biological psychology in summary?
- neuronal transmission
- the role of genes
- the role of hormones
- brain structure & functioning
