Biopsychosocial Model

Question 1

Nature and Nurture don’t work in isolation

Answer 1

genes and biological systems interact with life systems and mental processes

Question 2

phenotype

Answer 2

the observed characteristics of an organism

Question 3

genotype

Answer 3

the genes that code for the organism’s characteristics

Question 4

allele

Answer 4

specific variant of a gene - two for each gene (one for each parent)

Question 5

psychological factors are polygenic

Answer 5

meaning the phenotypic trait is influenced by multiple genes

Question 6

diathesis stress model

Answer 6

this model shows that a person will inherit a risk factor that may initiate a mental illness with the interaction of specific life stressors

• an interaction with nature or nurture

Question 7

gene environment correlation model

Answer 7

inheriting certain genes can increase the risk of experiencing negative life events
- For example, children with a genetic predisposition to behave in a self-deflating way can illicit hostile treatment from their peers

Question 8

epigenetics

Answer 8

behavioural and environmental factors that affect the expression of genes/cellular material influencing traits
- negative habits can be genetically passed down

Question 9

synapse

Answer 9

gap at the end of a neuron that allows signal to pass from one neuron to the next

synaptic cleft is the gap between two neuron where electrical signal is sent

Question 10

reuptake

Answer 10

Neurotransmitters then disconnect from receptor in the synaptic cleft and go through terminal button

Question 11

excitatory and inhibitory

neurotransmitters

Answer 11

some neurotransmitters are excitatory, increase neurons potential to fire, some are inhibitory, decrease neurons potential to fire

Question 12

action potential

Answer 12

a neuron firing

• Activates neurotransmitters from terminal button to synaptic cleft

Question 13

Nervous Systems

Answer 13

central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
- somatic nervous system
- autonomic nervous system
- sympathetic nervous system
- parasympathetic nervous system
- endocrine system

Question 14

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 14

controls the fight or flight response during times of stress

Question 15

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 15

counteracts and calms down fight or flight responses

Question 16

HPA Axis (main stress response system)

Answer 16

During stress the hypothalamus releases hormones to tell the pituitary gland to release hormones, gets adrenal glands to release hormones like cortisol.

This rapidly breakdown fat into sugar for immediate energy. Cortisol also shuts off stress response.

More cortisol receptors means faster stress responses. It details the perception of stress and the physiological reaction taking place.

Question 17

physiological reactions before emotional reactions

Answer 17

James-Lange Theory
- when eliciting an emotional reaction, the body reacts first and the brain labels the physiological reactions afterwards

Question 18

schema

Answer 18

a person’s conceptual understanding of a stimulus

Question 19

self-schema

Answer 19

how you view yourself, an understanding of the knowledge that makes you you.

Question 20

social factors on mental illness

Answer 20

A loss of sociality can result in a loss of stimulation accustomed by the brain

Question 21

cross-sectional design

Answer 21

methodology to examine a characteristic by comparing individuals of different ages

Question 22

longitudinal design

Answer 22

systematic study of changes in the same individual or group examined over time

Question 23

sequential design

Answer 23

combination of cross-sectional design and longitudinal design

Question 24

Beck’s Cognitive Model

With example

Answer 24

negatives views about the world –> negative views about the future –> negative views about oneself –>

tendency for depressed individuals to attend to sad faces and negative stimuli as opposed to positive ones

Question 25

somatic nervous system

Answer 25

controls voluntary skeletal muscles

Question 26

autonomic nervous system

Answer 26

gut, heart rate and endocrine system

Question 27

endocrine system

Answer 27

communicating between glands through hormones

• controls sex and reproduction, metabolism, growth, development and hunger
• pituitary and adrenal glands

Question 28

sociality on the brain

Answer 28

a lack of stimulation in social contact can rectify processes of the brain

Question 29

neurotransmitters

Answer 29

chemical transmitters that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

Question 30

limbic system

Answer 30

includes hippocampus amygdala and hypothalamus
- cerebral hemispheres

• emotions: fear, aggression
• drives: food, sex

Question 31

GABA

Answer 31

gamma-aminobutyric acid
- reduces activity across the synaptic cleft that inhibits a range of behaviours and emotions, such as generalised anxiety

Question 32

glutamate

Answer 32

amino acid neurotransmitter that excites different neurons, leading to action

Question 33

Amygdala

Answer 33

lima bean sized cluster of neurons, involved in memory consolidation and emotion

Question 34

Hypothalamus and Hippocampus

Answer 34

Hypothalamus - regulates body temperature, circadian rhythms and hunger, helps govern endocrine system

Hippocampus - central to learning and memory