the biological area

• defining principles and concepts of the biological area

  → the biological area focuses on genetics ,, neurochemicals and how the brain and nervous system work at explanations of behaviour

  • area suggests that all that is psychological is 1st psychological ,, i.e. that all behaviour has a biological basis

  → therefore ,, all human behaviour can be explained through the functioning of biological systems

  • E.G.- the brain ,, genes & hormones

  → this approach studies the functioning of these biological systems using objective measures (brain scans) and experimental methods
• defining principles and concepts of the biological area

  → biological psychologists believe that all psychological behaviours (including thoughts ,, feelings & behaviour) has a biological basis

  → therefore ,, all human behaviour can be explained through the functioning of biological systems

  • E.G.- the brain ,, genes & hormones

  → this approach studies the functioning of these biological systems using objective measures (brain scans) and experimental methods

  → this approach supports the nature side of the nature-nurture debate ,, meaning all behaviours are innate
• how does SPERRY's study reflect the biological area?

  → sperry investigated lateralisation of brain function - the role of the different hemispheres of the brain in terms of language ability and motor control

  → he used controlled laboratory tests (these were visual and tactile tasks ) to investigate this

  → he found language is located in the left hemisphere and each side of the body is controlled by the opposite hemisphere
• how does CASEY's study reflect the biological area?

  → Casey investigated the roles of the inferior frontal gyrus and ventral striatum when trying to resist temptation

  → they used objective fMRI scans to do this and highly controlled Go/No-Go tests to compare high and low delayers

  → they found reduced activity in the inferior frontal gyrus and increased activity in the ventral striatum in low delayers
• how does BLAKEMORE and COOPER's study reflect the biological area?

  → they investigated whether neuroplasticity existed in the visual cortex of kittens

  → they used highly controlled laboratory experiments where kittens were placed in either horizontal or vertical environments ,, and then studied the neurophysiology of two kittens to examine the pattern of neurons in their visual cortex

  → they found that the kittens showed neuroplasticity as the pattern of the neurons in their visual cortex had changed as a result of the environment they had been raised in
• how does MAGUIRE's study reflect the biological area?

  → Maguire investigated whether neuroplasticity in hippocampi of taxi drivers and non taxi drivers

  → he used a high controlled experiment using objective MRI scans to investigate the volume of grey matter in the hippocampi of each group

  → Maguire found that the taxi drivers had greater grey matter volume in the posterior hippocampi and lower volume in the anterior hippocampi of the taxi drivers compared to the controls ,, and concluded that neuroplasticity can occur in the hippocampus as a result of navigational experience
• Strengths of the biological area ; 1

  strengths ;

  • scientific - biological approach adapts all the features of science including objectivity and reliability. Casey’s research into delay of gratification used an fMRI machine to look at the difference in brain behaviour of high and low delayers. This is a strength because we can use these to see which parts of the brain are used the most when doing different tasks.
• strengths of the biological area ; 2

  • useful - it has practical applications that can be used in everyday life - allows psychologists to understand that the brain can be changed through external stimuli and how this is useful in helping people rehabilitate after a stroke (experience a loss of brain function) ,, E.G. Maguire's study shows us about brain plasticity and how taxi drivers were found to have increased grey matter in the posterior hippocampus compared to the control group
• weaknesses of the biological area ; 1

  → low ecological validity - Casey’s study into the delay of gratification used a quasi-experiment in a lab which gave it high control but low ecological validity - it's much harder to generalise the findings from the study as they are not representative of the real world. as it took place in a lab and a standardised environment, it means this may have influenced how people would have reacted & although this says it is down to your biology, it could also be influenced by external forces, such as those around you and the environment you are in
• weaknesses of the biological area ; 2

  → reductionist as it suggests that the human mind all comes down to your genetics & hormones as all behaviour depends on your bio. It fails to consider the cognitive processes in causing behaviour. B&P’s study investigated effect of early visual experiences on the development of kittens & found that the environment that a cat is brought up in can have an effect on their behaviour as they develop - limits thoughts on development as the area believes behaviours determined by bio but it can also depend on the environment it doesn’t take this into thought
• glossary - kap 5 ; 1

  → reductionism ;

  • reductionist explanations seek to break down behaviour into its constitudent parts and use single factors such as genes or particular hormones to account of a specific behaviour
  • E.G. serotonin deficiencies being responsible for depression

  → determinism ;

  • suggests we lack control over our behaviour and that behaviours caused by factors outside of our control
  • E.G. genes or past experiences
• glossary - kap 5 ; 1

  → psychology as a science ;

  • this debate revolved around whether psychology can be classed as a science - as it's a relatively new scientific discipline it sometimes finds itself not being taken as seriously ,, & not have as high a status as natural sciences are.
  • often classified as a social science and can be seen as having lower status than physical science
  • in order to be considered scientific ,, subject needs to demonstrates things such as repliceability ,, cause and effect ,, objectivity ,, high control ,, ETC.
  • some areas do this (Biological area) ,, others dont