biological approach

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Created by
nicole

Subdecks (1)

Cards (20)

  • biological approach assumptions
    everything psychological is first biological, to understand behaviour:
    -look at biological structures and processes in the body
    -favours the use of experimental methods and technology to explain + record behaviour and data
  • two types of genes and their definition
    genotype - particular set of genes
    phenotype - inherited characteristic
    1. influence of genes
    genes found in chromosomes, parents pass to their offspring
    • consist of DNA > physical features
    a direct relationship is expected between the genotype and phenotype but won’t always happen (genotype blue eyes recessive + brown eyes dominant can’t be observed from the phenotype brown eyes)
    -illness or disease can affect the phenotype, can happen prenatally or at birth
  • 2. biological structures
    -in the brain the two hemispheres have different functions, each is divided into four lobes
  • 4 lobe and their functions?
    -frontal lobe = decisions/speech/thought/learning
    -temporal lobes = hearing/memory
    -paretial lobes = sensory info
    -occipital lobe = visual info
  • nervous systems
    -central nervous system (brain + spinal cord) = breathing, heart, senses, eating
    -peripheral nervous system
    • somatic = skin, movement
    • autonomic = reaction to threat
  • 3. neurotransmitters?

    chemical messengers between neurons that can affect mood, thoughts or behaviour
  • 3. hormones? 

    chemical messengers controlled by the endocrine system that travel through the bloodstream to their target organs. produced in large quantities with immediate effect
  • biological approach AO3 - experiment and technology
    -high reliability
    -high replicability
    -scientific credibility, focused on objectivity
  • biological approach AO3 - Support
    -40 twin studies meta analysis found that it’s more common in biological relatives to develop schizophrenia
    = genes do have an influence
  • biological approach AO3 - criticise approach
    -excludes social and cultural influences
    social = relationships
    cultural = social learning and language impact thinking + behaviour
    -neglects peoples experiences
    -reductionist = reducing complex human behaviour into simple components
  • biological approach AO3 - irl application
    lead to biological treatments like antidepressants