Unit 3 - LAA2 - Approaches to Health (Bio, SLT, Behaviourism, Cognitive) Flashcards
What two things does the biological approach suggest causes ill health?
Genes and neurotransmitters
What are genes?
Biological information inherited from parents
What is meant by a genetic predisposition?
Having a risk to a behaviour due to an inherited gene
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals in the brain that send communications from one neuron to another
Chemicals in the brain that send communications from one neuron to another are known as…
Neurotransmitters
What 3 neurotransmitters are commonly found to be associated with mental disorders?
Serotonin
Dopamine
Noradrenaline
What is the role of serotonin?
Maintaining mood balance
What is the role of dopamine?
- Control brains reward and pleasure centres
- Regulate movements and emotional responses
When is noradrenaline produced?
In response to stress
Which neurotransmitter maintains mood balance?
Serotonin
Which neurotransmitter controls the brains reward pathways?
Dopamine
Which neurotransmitter is produced in response to stress?
Noradrenaline
What are two symptoms of depression?
Lowered mood
Disrupted activity levels
How do low levels of serotonin cause depression?
Leads to failure to regulate dopamine and noradrenaline
What does more recent evidence suggest about the cause of low levels of serotonin?
The presynaptic neuron reuptakes the neurotransmitter before it has time to reach the post synaptic neuron
How does an SSRI work?
Blocking the holes in the presynaptic neuron to prevent reuptake
What are the two types of learning suggested by the Behaviourist Approach?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through consequences
How can classical conditioning explain addiction?
Exposure to an environmental stimulus can become associated with substance use so the environment can stimulate/trigger cravings
During classical conditioning, what two things are associated?
Unconditioned stimulus + neutral stimulus
What is cue reactivity?
Stimuli in your environment which may act as a cue and trigger cravings / the addictive behaviour
Which behaviourist principle is used in token economies?
Operant conditioning
Who are token economies usually used for?
Patients who have spent a long time in hospital?
How are token economies used for patients who have spent a long time in hospital?
By rewarding them in the form of tokens when they perform a desirable behaviour
What are two strengths of the biological approach to health?
- Highly scientific as use objective techniques such as brain scans
- Led to successful treatments such as NRT (nicotine patches)
What is a weakness of the biological approach to health?
- Does not take into account social learning theory, so therefore reductionist
Social Learning Theory suggest that people become addicted due to…
Modelling and indirect learning
Social learning theory would suggest that people become addicted due to…
Modelling and indirect learning
The process of modelling and indirect learning are concepts from which approach?
Social learning theory
When will an individual have motivation to copy a behaviour according to SLT?
When they see others be rewarded for a behaviour
Why will an individual imitate a behaviour?
To receive the same reward
What will increase the likelihood of a behaviour being imitated after they see a model be rewarded?
If the model is similar to them
If the model is similar to the individual, this will lead to…
Identification
AO3: What has research shown about children who have parents who smoke?
They are more likely to smoke
AO3: What practical applications are there from SLT?
Ensuring unhealthy behaviours are not shown on TV
AO3: Why is SLT considered reductionst?
It does not take into account biological factors
The cognitive approach argues that mental illness such as depression are caused by…
Negative and maladaptive thoughts/beliefs
The aim of cognitive therapies for depression is to…
Change an individuals negative thoughts
What is meant cognitive dissonance?
A feeling of mental discomfort due to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviours
How can an individual reduce cognitive dissonance?
Change their behaviour to fit their attitudes, or change their attitudes to fit their behaviour
AO3: What has research into the cognitive approach shown about gamblers?
That they have irrational beliefs
AO3: What is a practical application of the cognitive approach?
Cognitive behavioural therapy
AO3: Why might the cognitive approach be considered reductionist?
It does not take into account biological factors
