The biological approach Flashcards
1
Q
what is the biological approach?
A
- humans are biological beings
- behaviors are explained through biological structures and processes
2
Q
what are biological structures?
A
- include hormonal and nervous system
- neurochemistry, genetics and evolution are all aspects of biology thought to influence human behaviour
3
Q
the influence of biological structures on behaviour:
A
- the endocrine system has the largest influence
- the brain is centre of all conscious and unconscious thought
4
Q
what is the endocrine system?
A
- body wide system of gland
- each gland secretes hormones which are chemical messengers
5
Q
what happens during fight or flight?
A
- brain signal adrenal gland to release adrenaline
- enhances blood flow to brain and muscles but decreasing to organs and skin
- in emergencies it prioritises quick thinking, attention and reflexes
- this is over digestion and reduces potential blood loss from less critical areas
6
Q
how can hormones have an affect on the body and behaviour?
A
- long term effects
- testosterone and estrogen develop gender specific physical features
- testosterone is linked to aggression
7
Q
what are the 4 lobes of the brain
A
- parietal
- occipital
- frontal
- temporal
8
Q
what are the structures in the limbic system?
A
- hippocampus
- amygdala
- thalamus
9
Q
what is localisation of function of the brain?
A
- specific brain areas are responsible for certain functions
10
Q
what is the role of the brain stem?
A
- controls physiological functions
- HR and BR
11
Q
what is the role of the cerebellum?
A
- coordinates muscle movement and balance
12
Q
what are the four lobes of the cerebrum?
A
- occipital
- frontal
- temporal
- parietal
12
Q
what is the role of the cerebrum?
A
- has two hemispheres connected by a bundle of nerves called corpus callosum
- subdivided into four lobes
13
Q
what is the role of the occipital lobe?
A
- visual perception
14
Q
what is the role of the frontal lobe?
A
- rational decision making
15
Q
what is the role of parietal lobe?
A
- receives sensory info
16
Q
what is the role of the temporal lobe?
A
- auditory info
17
Q
what is the role of the limbic system?
A
- emotional centre of the brain
18
Q
historically how were influences on brain structures on behaviour found?
A
- case studies on unusual individuals
- usually postmortems
- tan could only say tan
- revealed brain damage to brocas area during postmortem
19
Q
how are influences on brain structure on behaviour found now?
A
- modern replicable and objective fMRI’s
- show brain activation while doing certain tasks
- this research confirms the role of brain structures producing behaviour
20
Q
what does the brains biological structure consist of?
A
- nerve cells or neurons
- information travels electrically
- neurons dont physically touch, but travel over synaptic cleft
- at synapse electrical signal is turned into chemical to continue
21
Q
how are neurotransmitters released into the synaptic cleft
A
- axon terminal of pre synaptic neuron and dendrite of post synaptic terminal are close but dont touch
- presynaptic contains neurotransmitters in vesicles
- action potential reaches axon terminal= neurotransmitters in synaptic cleft
22
Q
role of excitatory neurotransmitters:
A
- when these neurotransmitters bind with receptors on post synaptic neuron
- increase likelihood of new action potential
23
Q
role of inhibitory neurotransmitters:
A
- when these neurotransmitters bind with receptors on post synaptic neuron
- decrease likelihood of new action potential
24
what happens if excitatory neurotransmitters outweigh inhibitory ones?
- action potential continues
25
how do neurotransmitters influence behaviour?
- serotonin: associated with well being and happiness
- dopamine: linked to pleasure, can be affected by substances like cocaine
- noradrenaline: related to attention
- glutamate: key for learning and memory
26
Evaluating neurotransmitters on behaviour: strength, led to practical applications
- development of drug therapies like SSRI's= treat depression and OCD
- target serotonin, preventing its reabsorption into presynaptic cell
- enhancing activity in synaptic cleft influencing behaviour by improving mood
27
how do genes influence behaviour?
- act as instructions or blueprints for making the components of the organism
- make the brain and influence how cells are formed and function
27
Evaluating neurotransmitters on behaviour: strength, meta analysis of drugs being effective
- combined data from 17 studies involving 3,079 pp
- SSRI's significantly decreased OCD symptoms compared to placebos
- supports the ideas that neurotransmitters play crucial role in influencing behaviour
28
what is one example of the genetic basis of behaviour?
- SERT gene
- part of genetic code that influences serotonin transport
- associated w development of OCD= compulsions
29
what is a genotype?
30
what are phenotypes?
- the physical expression of a genotype
31
what are genotypes?
- genetic codes in the DNA for characteristics of an organism
32
genotypes and phenotypes on behaviour:
- there are genotypes for behaviours
- phenotypes are the expression of the behaviours
33
how to study genetic inheritance of behaviour?
- use concordance rates between twins
- the probability that a person has a disorder if a relative does
- the higher concordance rates are amongst more closely related relatives= genetic influence
34
Evaluations of genes influencing behaviour: strength, concordance rates between twins
- the general pop has 2% prevalence rate for OCD
- 1st degree relatives of ppl w OCD have 10% concordance rate
- non-identical twins= 31% concordance rate
- identical twins= 68% concordance rate
- higher rates in closer family= genes do have an influence on behaviour
35
how does evolution affect behaviour?
- Darwins theory of natural selection
- = organisms with traits that enhance survival and reproduction are more likely to pass these advantageous characteristics to their offspring
- these traits become more common in the population
35
examples of genotypes and phenotypes dont always match:
- may have genotyp to be tall but be short bc didnt have correct nutrition as child
- genotype to have OCD but didnt experience life events to trigger the expression of the disorder
36
what is the diathesis- stress response?
- inherit a genetic vulnerability (genotype) is a diathesis
- stressor that triggers the disorder= childhood neglect or traumatic event
- without the stressor the individual will have normal mental health
37
what is evolution usually used to describe?
- physical characteristics
- muscle size
- wings strength
- speed
38
how do psychologists extend evolution to behaviours like aggression?
- inherited and innate behaviours provide survival advantages that are selected for
- become more common in future generations of a species
- aggression= protect families/ competing for mates
- high aggression more likely to be passed on
- today males may be more aggressive than females bc of inherited ancestral traits
39
Evaluations: strength, research support
- neurochemistry, biological structures and genes are all backed up by research studies
- replicable and objective fMRI's= brain structure
- somoros meta analysis of drug trails= neurotransmitters
- twins on OCD= genes influence behaviour
40
Evaluations: limitations, diathesis stress suggests genes arent a complete explanation for behaviour
- diathesis stress response include both biology and environmental factors
- suggests we inherit genetic vulnerability
- which is later triggered by a stressor
41
Evaluations: strength, practical applications
- used to develop drug therapies for mental health conditions like SZ and OCD
- lead to better functioning, more fulfilling lives which contribute to the economy due to returning back to work
42
Evaluations: strength, seen as scientific
- seen as scientific bc advanced tools are used like fMRI's, genetic analysis and direct measurements of hormones and neurotransmitters
- offer direct observation and highly controlled studies
- provides more objective data than self reports or inferences
43
Evaluations: limitations, biological determinism
- belief all actions are pre determined by biological factors
- criminal behaviour bc of criminal gene can challenge legal principles of responsibility
- mental; health conditions being purely biological can suggest individuals have no control over their behaviour so rely on drugs
- cognitive soft determinist approach= influence their own mental states which is more empowering
