Biological approach Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

The Biological approach attempts to understand behaviour through …..

5 components

A
  • Genes
  • Nervous system
  • Hormones
  • The brain
  • Evolution (Natural selection)

Run through each

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define heritability

A

A measure of how well the differences in people genes account for differences in traits.

Genotype isn’t always expressed same way in all individuals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q
  • 2 parts of the Nervous system
  • 2 types of Neurotransmitters
  • 2 Examples of hormones

And define

A
  • CNS (Brain and Spinal chord)
  • PNS (Peripheral) (somatic and autonomic)
  • Excitatory neurotransmitters e.g. Dopamine - involved in reward)
  • Inhibitory neurotransmitters e.g. Seretonin - Involved in mood stabillity
  • Testosterone - male sex hormone
  • Cortisol - stress response

PNS is extention of CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 6 subdivisions of the brain and their basic role

+ name for outer area of brain?

A
  • Frontal lobe - Executive functions
  • Motor cortex - Movement
  • Sensory cortex - Sensation
  • Pareital lobe - Perception (processes sensory information)
  • Occipital lobe - Processes visual information
  • Temporal love - Hearing and memory.

Cerebral cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Briefly outline the process of natural selection

A
  • Organisms adapt to environment
  • Organisms with advantagous adaptations survive and reproduce
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

2 Pros/Cons of Biological Approach

A
  • Scientific method - systematic, highly controlled - objective
  • Provides clear, testable predictios - treatments have been developed and tested. e.g. SSRIs
  • Reductionist - tries to explain mental illnesses in am oversimplified way.
  • Could result in ethical issues - embryonic screening/genetic “excuse” for criminal behaviour.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly