Overview

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 1

1- all that is psychological was once physiological
2- much behaviour has a genetic basis

Question 2

What is assumption one explained?

Answer 2

that the mind resides in the brain so all thoughts, feelings, and behaviour have a biological cause

Question 3

What is assumption two explained?

Answer 3

behaviour is due to biological factors such as: brain structure, hormones, and genetics

Question 4

What are the methods used by the biological approach?

Answer 4

1- lab experiments (need for scientific equipment)
2- twin and adoption studies (concordance)

Question 5

What does the biological approach suggest?

Answer 5

that behavioural characteristics (e.g., personality) are inherited

Question 6

What is concordance?

Answer 6

how much people agree

Question 7

What are the two types of twins?

Answer 7

monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (non-identical)

Question 8

How much of the same DNA do the two types of twins share?

Answer 8

mono = 100%
di = 50%

Question 9

What are twin studies used for?

Answer 9

to see if behaviour has a genetic basis

Question 10

What are adoption studies used for?

Answer 10

to see the likelihood of behaviour having a genetic cause

Question 11

How do adoption studies work?

Answer 11

if twins are adopted into different families and environments at birth yet still behave in the same or similar ways it is likely because behaviour is a result of genetics

Question 12

What type of twins are likely to have higher concordance rates?

Answer 12

monozygotic twins

Question 13

What part of the brain is looked at within someone who has schizophrenia?

Answer 13

ventricles - those with schizophrenia tend to have enlarged ventricles

Question 14

What is neuroanatomy?

Answer 14

the structure of the brain

Question 15

What part of the brain is responsible for personality?

Answer 15

pre-frontal cortex (frontal lobe)

Question 16

What part of the brain is responsible for aggression?

Answer 16

• amygdala
• hypothalamus

Question 17

What part of the brain is responsible for memory and spacial navigation?

Answer 17

hippocampus

Question 18

What part of the brain is responsible for sleep?

Answer 18

hypothalamus

Question 19

What part of the brain is responsible for emotions?

Answer 19

amygdala

Question 20

What chemical is associated with depression and OCD?

Answer 20

serotonin
high in OCD
low in depression

Question 21

What chemical is associated with addiction and schizophrenia?

Answer 21

dopamine
high in addiction
high in schizophrenia

Question 22

What chemical is associated with aggression?

Answer 22

testosterone
high = high aggression

Question 23

What chemical is associated with stress?

Answer 23

cortisol
high = high stress

Question 24

What chemical associated with SAD?

Answer 24

melatonin
high = SAD

Question 25

How is brain activity different between someone who has depression to someone who does not have depression?

Answer 25

• lower activity
• blue (in colour scans) rather than red/orange

Question 26

What type of treatment is often used biological disorders?

Answer 26

drug therapy

Question 27

What are the drugs that change the way a person thinks or behaves called?

Answer 27

psychoactive drugs

Question 28

What are the 4 main types of psychoactive drugs?

Answer 28

• anti-psychotics
• anti-depressants
• anti-anxiety drugs
• anti-mania drugs

Question 29

What are anti-psychotics used to treat?

Answer 29

schizophrenia

Question 30

What are anti-depressants used to treat?

Answer 30

depression

Question 31

What are anti-anxiety drugs used to treat?

Answer 31

anxiety

Question 32

What are anti-mania drugs used to treat?

Answer 32

bipolar disorder

Question 33

What are the criticisms of the biological approach?

Answer 33

• reductionist (oversimplifies complex ideas)
• nature (vs. nurture)
• deterministic - suggests we have no free will over our behaviour