The Biological Approach Flashcards
What does the biological approach focus on?
Combining biology & psychology to explain thoughts, feelings & behaviour in terms of physical factors.
What are the main assumptions for the biological approach?
-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.
Psychologists are determined to provide evidence for the ________ in which ________/________ are a product of ________ (genes).
Extent, behaviours, characteristics, inheritance.
What do genes carry?
Instructions for characteristics (e.g. IQ, personality).
What is a factor that affects gene development?
Environmental factors.
What is heritability?
The proprtion of variation in a trait amongst individuals that can be attributed to genetics.
The ________ a trait is influenced by ________ factors, the ________ the heritability.
More, genetic, greater.
Can genetics influence the risk of mental illnesses?
Yes.
What did Francis Galton say in 1869?
‘All natural abilities are inherited.’
How did Francis Coulton develop on his quote in 1869?
He said that any resemblance between family relatives could be a result of genes AND a shared environment.
Is there a suggestion of biological predisposition to addiction?
Yes.
What is disposition?
A genetic vulnerability to a characteristic (although the environment influences whether this behaviour is performed).
What is an example of predisposition?
One could be predisposed to be addicted to gambling (but moves to a country where gambling is illegal).
What is the scientific term for identical twins?
Monozygotic.
What is the scientific term for non-identical twins?
Dizygotic.
Identical twins (monozygotic) share ___% of their genes.
[EXPECTED]
100%.
Non-identical twins (dizygotic) share ___% of their genes.
[EXPECTED]
50%.
If one identical twin develops schizophrenia, the concordance rate is ___%.
What does this suggest?
48%.
There is a strong genetic explanation, although it can’t be the only factor (e.g. stressful life event).
If genes are the only factor, the concordance rate is expected to be ___% (but it never is).
100%.
What is concordance rate?
The extent in which twins share similar traits/characteristics.
How can the brain be destroyed/damaged?
Injury, tumours and strokes.
What can brain destruction/damage result in?
Behavioural changes.
What is I and what does it control?
Frontal lobe: thinking, memory, behaviour and movement.
What is II and what does it control?
Parietal lobe: language and touch.
What is III and what does it control?
Temporal lobe: hearing, learning and feelings.
What is IV and what does it control?
Occipital lobe: sight.
What is V and what does it control?
Brain stem: breathing, heart rate and temperature.
What is VI and what does it control?
Cerebellum: balance and co-ordination.
What are ‘higher order’ functions?
Thinking and language.
What happened to Phineas Gage?
He survived an accident in which a large iron rod went through his brain. His personality changed from being sociable to hostile.
Neurotransmitters:
-________ levels can lead to symptoms of ________ ________.
-Depression is linked to ________ ________ of ________.
-Schizophrenia is linked with ________ ________ of ________.
-Neurotransmitter ________ can be determined ________.
Neurotransmitters:
-Abnormal, mental illness.
-low levels, serotonin.
-high levels, dopamine.
-levels, genetically.
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.
Endocrine System:
-chemical, processes.
-secreted, bloodstream.
-psychological, alter.
High levels of testosterone/oestrogen leads to…
… higher sex drive, aggression.
High levels of adrenaline leads to…
… stress, arousal.
High levels of endorphins leads to…
… happiness, sexual pleasure.
What are genes?
The basic units of heredity. They function in pairs, and the recombination of genes from parents to offspring provides the basis for genetic variability.
What is heredity?
The passing on of characteristics.
How do genes carry information?
In the form of DNA.
What is genotype?
The genetic make up one has (written in our cells’ DNA).
What is phenotype?
The way genes are expressed through physical characteristics (influenced by environment).
Genotype + Environment =
Phenotype.
What is evolution?
The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.
What were Darwin’s two concepts in evolutionary theory?
-Natural selection.
-Sexual selection.
What is natural selection?
Where desirable behaviours that help in survival and reproduction continue to further generations.
What is natural selection also referred as?
Survival of the fittest.
What are strengths of the biological approach?
-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).
What are weaknesses of the biological approach?
-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.
