The Biological Approach (AP P2) Flashcards
1
Q
What is the Biological approach?
A
- Everything psychological is at first biological
- Look at biological structures/processes within body e.g genes, neurochemistry and nervous system
2
Q
What function does serotonin regulate/produce?
A
- Regulates/suppresses emotion
- Calming effect of neuroactivity
- Imbalance explains OCD
- SSRI stimulates serotonin activity between neurones
- Inhibitory neurotransmitter
3
Q
What function does dopamine regulate/produce?
A
- Get it moment before pleasant experience
- Explains addiction (e.g cocaine)
- Body craves dopamine
4
Q
What function do endorphins regulate/produce?
A
- When you exercise/overcome challenge
- Regulates mood
5
Q
What function does oxytocin regulate/produce?
A
- Released when love is experienced
- Attachment between child and mother
6
Q
What function does adrenaline regulate/produce?
A
Excitatory: linked to fight or flight
7
Q
What function does melatonin regulate/produce?
A
- Produced by pineal gland
- Regulates sleep/wake cycles
- Suppresses serotonin: mood regulatory disorders increase in winter months (triggered by darkness) e.g depression
8
Q
What function does cortisol regulate/produce?
A
- Stress hormone released by adrenal cortex in response to a stressor
- Suppresses immune system
9
Q
What is concordance?
A
Extent to which they are similar in that characteristic
10
Q
Twin studies
A
- MZ (monozygotic twins) have 100% same genes
- DZ (dizygotic twins) have 50% same genes (same as siblings)
11
Q
What is a genotype
A
Genetic makeup of your DNA
12
Q
What is a phenotype?
A
- Physical features
- Psychological/physical/behavioural characteristics affected by both environment and genotype
13
Q
What is natural selection?
A
Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival/reproduction will be passed on to future generations (adaptive process)
14
Q
What is hard determinism?
A
- Forces outside our control shape our behaviour
- Everything psychological is at first biological
