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