The Biological Approach Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What does the biological approach focus on?

A

Combining biology & psychology to explain thoughts, feelings & behaviour in terms of physical factors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the main assumptions for the biological approach?

A

-Human behaviour is influenced by genetics & the environment.
-Genes affect behaviour; genotype and phenotype which influence individual differences between people.
-Brain infections can play a role in mental illness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Psychologists are determined to provide evidence for the ________ in which ________/________ are a product of ________ (genes).

A

Extent, behaviours, characteristics, inheritance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What do genes carry?

A

Instructions for characteristics (e.g. IQ, personality).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a factor that affects gene development?

A

Environmental factors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is heritability?

A

The proprtion of variation in a trait amongst individuals that can be attributed to genetics.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The ________ a trait is influenced by ________ factors, the ________ the heritability.

A

More, genetic, greater.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Can genetics influence the risk of mental illnesses?

A

Yes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What did Francis Galton say in 1869?

A

‘All natural abilities are inherited.’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How did Francis Coulton develop on his quote in 1869?

A

He said that any resemblance between family relatives could be a result of genes AND a shared environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Is there a suggestion of biological predisposition to addiction?

A

Yes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is disposition?

A

A genetic vulnerability to a characteristic (although the environment influences whether this behaviour is performed).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an example of predisposition?

A

One could be predisposed to be addicted to gambling (but moves to a country where gambling is illegal).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the scientific term for identical twins?

A

Monozygotic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the scientific term for non-identical twins?

A

Dizygotic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Identical twins (monozygotic) share ___% of their genes.
[EXPECTED]

A

100%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Non-identical twins (dizygotic) share ___% of their genes.
[EXPECTED]

A

50%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

If one identical twin develops schizophrenia, the concordance rate is ___%.

What does this suggest?

A

48%.

There is a strong genetic explanation, although it can’t be the only factor (e.g. stressful life event).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

If genes are the only factor, the concordance rate is expected to be ___% (but it never is).

A

100%.

20
Q

What is concordance rate?

A

The extent in which twins share similar traits/characteristics.

21
Q

How can the brain be destroyed/damaged?

A

Injury, tumours and strokes.

22
Q

What can brain destruction/damage result in?

A

Behavioural changes.

23
Q

What is I and what does it control?

A

Frontal lobe: thinking, memory, behaviour and movement.

24
Q

What is II and what does it control?

A

Parietal lobe: language and touch.

25
Q

What is III and what does it control?

A

Temporal lobe: hearing, learning and feelings.

26
Q

What is IV and what does it control?

A

Occipital lobe: sight.

27
Q

What is V and what does it control?

A

Brain stem: breathing, heart rate and temperature.

28
Q

What is VI and what does it control?

A

Cerebellum: balance and co-ordination.

29
Q

What are ‘higher order’ functions?

A

Thinking and language.

30
Q

What happened to Phineas Gage?

A

He survived an accident in which a large iron rod went through his brain. His personality changed from being sociable to hostile.

31
Q

Neurotransmitters:
-________ levels can lead to symptoms of ________ ________.
-Depression is linked to ________ ________ of ________.
-Schizophrenia is linked with ________ ________ of ________.
-Neurotransmitter ________ can be determined ________.

A

Neurotransmitters:
-Abnormal, mental illness.
-low levels, serotonin.
-high levels, dopamine.
-levels, genetically.

32
Q

Endocrine System:
-Hormones are ________ substances that help to regulate ________ in the body.
-Hormones are ________ by glands and travel to their target organs through the ________.
-Hormones cause a ________ reaction in the target cells and ________ their activity.

A

Endocrine System:
-chemical, processes.
-secreted, bloodstream.
-psychological, alter.

33
Q

High levels of testosterone/oestrogen leads to…

A

… higher sex drive, aggression.

34
Q

High levels of adrenaline leads to…

A

… stress, arousal.

35
Q

High levels of endorphins leads to…

A

… happiness, sexual pleasure.

36
Q

What are genes?

A

The basic units of heredity. They function in pairs, and the recombination of genes from parents to offspring provides the basis for genetic variability.

37
Q

What is heredity?

A

The passing on of characteristics.

38
Q

How do genes carry information?

A

In the form of DNA.

39
Q

What is genotype?

A

The genetic make up one has (written in our cells’ DNA).

40
Q

What is phenotype?

A

The way genes are expressed through physical characteristics (influenced by environment).

41
Q

Genotype + Environment =

A

Phenotype.

42
Q

What is evolution?

A

The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.

43
Q

What were Darwin’s two concepts in evolutionary theory?

A

-Natural selection.
-Sexual selection.

44
Q

What is natural selection?

A

Where desirable behaviours that help in survival and reproduction continue to further generations.

45
Q

What is natural selection also referred as?

A

Survival of the fittest.

46
Q

What are strengths of the biological approach?

A

-Scientific, Objective Approach: suggests that cause-and-effect of biology of behaviour can be found (e.g. brain scans).
-Practical Application (e.g. SSRIs for OCD).

47
Q

What are weaknesses of the biological approach?

A

-Reductionist: behaviour reduced to physical processes (neurotransmitters) - OCD caused by serotonin levels, failing to acknowledge role of environment.
-Deterministic: ignores free will, implying that we can’t choose how we behave.