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APPROACHES- biological approach to psychology - Coggle Diagram
APPROACHES- biological approach to psychology
the influence of genes on our behaviour
genotype=
genetic codes for physicsl/behavioural characteristics inherited from parents like height
phenotype=
the expression of the characteristic (growing tall). this can differ to genotype due to environmental effects like diet
twin studies
are often used for experiments about genetic testing. monozygotic/ identical twins share 100% of their DNA. this means 100% of their genotype is the same
concordance rate=
the likelihood of one twin having the characteristic if the other twin has the characteristic (a measure of correlation). for example, the concordance rate for schitsophrenia in MZ twins is 48%, whereas in DZ twins it is only 4% which suggests a large genetic component.
diathesis-stress=
suggesting a disorder is the result of the interaction between a pre-existing vulnerability (genotype) and environmental stressors like drug use
evolution and behaviour
evolution=
the development of successive generations of natural organisms due to adaptation to the environment
theory of natural selection=
Darwin found individuals in a species very due to genetic differences. Variances most suited to the environment give a survival and reproductive advantage. these genes are more likely to be passed to the next generation
inherited characteristics
= these can be physical such as muscles, or behavioural adaptations such as fear responses
attachment=
animals such as geese imprint on to the first large object they see and follow them to survive (Lorenz)
relationships=
people are attracted to characteristics that demonstrate the best possibility of reproductive success
aggression=
aggression is selected as a survival advantage due to protection and increased ability to gain resources
brief overview of biological structures
the endocrine system
it is a chemical messaging system throughout the body that releases hormones that enter the blood stream. it is slower than the nervous system but has longer lasting effects
pituitary gland
- known as the master gland that controls the release of hormones from other glands
adrenal gland
is just above the kidneys and releases adrenaline/noradrenaline as part of the fight or flight response. adrenaline increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels which increases the rate of blood flow and therefore blood pressure and more.
the reflex arc
it is a collection of cells that transmit information from the source, decide responses and make the response happen
sensory neuron-
sends info from the senses to the brain
relay neurons-
connect with other neurons, mostly found in the brain or CNS. they analyse sensations, interpret meaning, deciding on responses. acts between sensory and motor neurons
motor neurons-
send messages along axons from the brain to the muscles/effectors
synspses
an
action potential/nerve impulse
travels down the axon of the pre-synaptic neuron
this causes
vesicles
to release neurotransmitters into the
synaptic cleft
Neurotransmitters detected at the post synaptic neurons
receptor sites
influence whether or not the post synaptic neuron fires
neurotransmitters-
chemical messengers that work in the synaptic cleft. neurotransmitters can be inhibitory like serotonin making past synaptic neurons less likely to fire or they can be excitatory like dopamine making post synaptic neurons more likely to fire an impulse
summation-
the net effect of inhibitory and excitatory influences on the post synaptic neuron results in it being more or less likely to fire
if the net effect is excitatory then the neuron will be more likely to fire and if it is inhibitory then it will be less likely to fire
reuptake inhibitors-
drugs often work by influencing this system. reuptake inhibitors like SSRIs keep serotonin in the synaptic cleft
central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
CNS-
the collection of nerve cells accross the body that sends electrical messages
PNS
- information from the senses accross the body to the brain, decisions from brain to the body
biological structures- the brain
brain stem
= regulates basic functions like heart rate, breathing, sleeping and eating. Connects brain to the spine and the rest of the body
cerebellum=
receives information from sensory systems, spinal cord and other parts of the brain. regulates motor movement and balance
cerebral cortex=
largest area of the brain, outer skin of the brain (2.5mm thick). folded to increase surface area. contains cell bodies of neurons (grey matter). memory, perception, cognition, awareness, thought
occipital lobe
= processes visual stimuli- colour, shape, orientation
parietal lobe=
regulates sensory info from accross the body and the manipulation of objects
temporal lobe
= auditory perception, processing noise into words (speech comprehension), declaritive memory storage
frontal lobe
predicts future concequences, override socially unacceptable behaviour. decide appropriate behaviour (conscience)
evaluating biopsych with issues and debates
NEGATIVE- biological determinism. it is the idea that our behaviour is causally driven by internal natural processes and is predictable, so we dont have the free will to control our actions.
NEGATIVE- biological reductionism. reduces the explanation for complex behaviours to simple biological elements. this is based on the scientific principle of parsimony- complex phenomena should be explained in the simplest way possible
NEGATIVE- approach fully supports the idea that behaviour is due to nature processes such as the influence of genes, neurotransmitters and brain structure. minimises the role of the environment such as cultural or social learning pressures on behaviour.
POSITIVE- nomothetic. biological approach takes quantitstive scientific approach of studying large groups of people in an attempt to form general laws of behaviour that can apply accross populations. this has led to effective drug treatments
evaluation
POSITIVE- objective scientific measurements, like neurotransmitter levels which increases the validity of findings. this is compared to cognitive psychologists who look at internal mental processes which are open to inferences and are therefore more subjective
POSITIVE- effectiveness of drugs created from the biological approach have helped people, like SSRIs and their role in the treatment of ocd
Positive- large number of empirical studies to back up biological theories. this means that a lot of empirical evidence is used- which is evidence gathered through experiemental procedures, where variables etc are controlled and procedure is standardised
NEGATIVE- it is completely mechanistic- there is no consideration at all of internal mental processes which are a key part of our behaviour and learning
