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Psychology- Approaches P2 > The biological approach > Flashcards

The biological approach Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the biological approach?

A
  • humans are biological beings
  • behaviors are explained through biological structures and processes
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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
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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
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4
Q

what is the endocrine system?

A
  • body wide system of gland
  • each gland secretes hormones which are chemical messengers
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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
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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
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7
Q

what are the 4 lobes of the brain

A
  • parietal
  • occipital
  • frontal
  • temporal
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8
Q

what are the structures in the limbic system?

A
  • hippocampus
  • amygdala
  • thalamus
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9
Q

what is localisation of function of the brain?

A
  • specific brain areas are responsible for certain functions
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10
Q

what is the role of the brain stem?

A
  • controls physiological functions
  • HR and BR
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11
Q

what is the role of the cerebellum?

A
  • coordinates muscle movement and balance
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12
Q

what are the four lobes of the cerebrum?

A
  • occipital
  • frontal
  • temporal
  • parietal
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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
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13
Q

what is the role of the occipital lobe?

A
  • visual perception
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14
Q

what is the role of the frontal lobe?

A
  • rational decision making
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15
Q

what is the role of parietal lobe?

A
  • receives sensory info
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16
Q

what is the role of the temporal lobe?

A
  • auditory info
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17
Q

what is the role of the limbic system?

A
  • emotional centre of the brain
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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
Q

what happens if excitatory neurotransmitters outweigh inhibitory ones?

A
  • action potential continues
25
Q

how do neurotransmitters influence behaviour?

A
  • 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
Q

Evaluating neurotransmitters on behaviour: strength, led to practical applications

A
  • 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
Q

how do genes influence behaviour?

A
  • act as instructions or blueprints for making the components of the organism
  • make the brain and influence how cells are formed and function
27
Q

Evaluating neurotransmitters on behaviour: strength, meta analysis of drugs being effective

A
  • 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
Q

what is one example of the genetic basis of behaviour?

A
  • SERT gene
  • part of genetic code that influences serotonin transport
  • associated w development of OCD= compulsions
29
Q

what is a genotype?

A
30
Q

what are phenotypes?

A
  • the physical expression of a genotype
31
Q

what are genotypes?

A
  • genetic codes in the DNA for characteristics of an organism
32
Q

genotypes and phenotypes on behaviour:

A
  • there are genotypes for behaviours
  • phenotypes are the expression of the behaviours
33
Q

how to study genetic inheritance of behaviour?

A
  • 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
Q

Evaluations of genes influencing behaviour: strength, concordance rates between twins

A
  • 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
Q

how does evolution affect behaviour?

A
  • 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
Q

examples of genotypes and phenotypes dont always match:

A
  • 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
Q

what is the diathesis- stress response?

A
  • 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
Q

what is evolution usually used to describe?

A
  • physical characteristics
  • muscle size
  • wings strength
  • speed
38
Q

how do psychologists extend evolution to behaviours like aggression?

A
  • 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
Q

Evaluations: strength, research support

A
  • 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
Q

Evaluations: limitations, diathesis stress suggests genes arent a complete explanation for behaviour

A
  • diathesis stress response include both biology and environmental factors
  • suggests we inherit genetic vulnerability
  • which is later triggered by a stressor
41
Q

Evaluations: strength, practical applications

A
  • 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
Q

Evaluations: strength, seen as scientific

A
  • 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
Q

Evaluations: limitations, biological determinism

A
  • 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

Psychology- Approaches P2 (8 decks)

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