the biological approach

Question 1

who is wihelm wundt?

Answer 1

founded the first psychology lab in 1879

the idea of introspection

Question 2

what is introspection?

Answer 2

the examination of ones own thoughts

Question 3

what is structuralism?

Answer 3

isolating the structure of consciousness

Question 4

what is the biological approach?

Answer 4

a neurochemical explanation of behaviour

behaviour can be a consequence of our genetics and physiology

Question 5

what is neurochemistry?

Answer 5

they study of structures and functions of compounds generated by the nervous system

Question 6

what is meant by concordance rate?

Answer 6

the probability that 2 people with shared genes would develop the same disease/ disorder

Question 7

what is a genotype?

Answer 7

the particular set of genes that a person possesses

Question 8

what is a phenotype?

Answer 8

the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

Question 9

what is meant by the term evolution?

Answer 9

the changes in inherited characteristics in the biological population over the years
when species change to adapt to their environment
adaptations for survival

Question 10

what does deterministic mean?

Answer 10

the idea that individuals behaviour is controlled by internal or external forces, rather than their will to do something
it is not random
evolution is deterministic

Question 11

what does reductionist mean?

Answer 11

when you can reduce behaviour down to just one explanation

Question 12

what is holism?

Answer 12

considering the whole picture

behaviour could be due to many things

Question 13

what takes place in the frontal lobe?

Answer 13

high cognitive functions

e.g. memory, emotions, social interaction, problem solving

Question 14

what takes place in the temporal lobe?

Answer 14

primarily responsible for interpreting sounds taken in by the ears
recognising and using language
creating new long term memories

Question 15

what happens in the occipital lobe?

Answer 15

the visual processing area

processes distance, depth, colour, and object and face recognition

Question 16

what happens in the parietal lobe?

Answer 16

control of sensory input and output

the senses

Question 17

what takes place in brocas area?

Answer 17

the production of speech and written language

Question 18

what is the function of wernickes area?

Answer 18

language development

responsible for the comprehension of speech

Question 19

pros and cons of introspection?

Answer 19

pros - and important part of self awareness

cons - lacks reliability and validity

Question 20

pros and cons of the biological approach?

Answer 20

pros - repeatable as it is a scientific research method
neurochemical imbalances in the brain can be treat by psychoactive drugs
explanations can be scientifically tested and proven

cons - does not account for other influences on behaviour e.g. environmental factors, childhood experiences etc.

Question 21

motor neuron

Answer 21

function: connects the CNS to the effector (muscle or gland)

short dendrites, long axons

Question 22

relay neuron

Answer 22

function: connects the sensory neuron to the motor neuron

short dendrites, short axons

Question 23

sensory neuron

Answer 23

function: carry messages from the PNS to the CNS

long dendrites, short axons

Question 24

action potential

Answer 24

the change in electric potential that propagates along an axon of a neuron during the transmission of a nerve impulse or the contraction of a muscle

Question 25

the autonomic nervous system

Answer 25

governs vital functions in the body

Question 26

fight or flight

Answer 26

anxiety and fear protects body from stress/danger
sympathetic nervous system controls the F of F
the body changes when we need to defend ourselves or escape

Question 27

the autonomic nervous system divisions

Answer 27

sympathetic nervous system (controls fight or flight) heart rate increases etc

parasympathetic nervous system (returns everything to normal) heart rate decreases etc

Question 28

adrenal glands

Answer 28

produce hormones that help regulate metabolism and the immune system
used in fight or flight

Question 29

pituitary glands

Answer 29

secrete topic hormones to regulate other hormones

Question 30

ovaries/ testes

Answer 30

secrete sexual hormones