3.6 (issues and debates) Flashcards
(22 cards)
what is socially sensitive research?
- implications of research itself impacting on researchers, individuals or groups in society represented by sample
- people may be treated differently because of research findings leading to sensitivity
- it can also be impotent as it can help raise awareness of issues in society
What’s an example for socially sensitive cases in biological psychology?
brain abnormalities in aggressive murderers suggest physical marker could be identified for this kind of crime
what’s an example of a study where bio psych is socially sensitive?
- raine
- he found that murderers had less glucose activity in prefrontal cortex and more in amygdala
- socially sensitive as findings suggest aggression is predetermined due to brain differences which is unfair
- socially sensitive for victims and families as the offender will have the blame denounced due to their brain
what’s an example of a study where bio psych isn’t a socially sensitive problem?
- dabbs
- found saliva in violent offenders had more testosterone than that of other offenders
- may mean male defendants are deemed as more guilty than females which is sensitive
- although sensitive, hormone therapies were able to be developed which reduces reoffending rates
what’s AO1 for social control in biological?
- understanding how **neurotransmitters in communication works$$ can influence drug treatments, positive social control
- understanding of hormones can influence aggression which can be a form of negative social control
what’s a biopsych study that shows negative social control?
- raine
- radioactive tracer injected which tracks glucose levels
- 32 min task of activating brain
- amygdala activities were high and prefrontal cortex was low
- negative social control can be used as normal ppl w that brain activity can be imprisoned
what’s a biopsych study that shows positive social control?
- methadone
- activates body’s mu receptors that trigger endorphins
- reduces withdrawal symptoms such as itchy skin
- therefore doctors can change behaviour of addicts by positive social control
what’s AO1 for nature nurture in biological?
- brain structure like prefrontal cortex functionality leads to predictable behaviour, nature approach
- comparing MZ and DZ twins is a nurture approach as only diff factor in results would be genes
what’s a nature biopsych study?
- dabbs
- tested for testosterone in the saliva of female prisoners and found more testosterone leads to higher aggression
ALSO
- brendgen
- investigated MZ and DZ twins
- statements from teachers showed that physical aggression is mainly genetic
what’s a nurture biopsych study?
- brendgen
- found that social aggression cannot be explained by genetic factors as much as physical
- shows that environment affects social behaviour of kids
what’s gender and cultural issues AO1 for biopsych?
- gender differences in aggression levels so may be gender issues in researching aggression
- males have 10x more testosterone than females cos of puberty which contributes to increased aggression
- therefore males studies cannot be generalised to females
what’s a biopsych study that shows gender/culture bias?
- dabbs
- showed more testosterone levels = higher aggression
- males have more testosterone biologically so therefore gender bias is shown
what’s a biopsych study that shows no gender/culture issues?
- raine
- measured brain activities of different murderers
- found lower activity in prefrontal cortex and higher in amygdala
- no bias as gender/culture has no impact on results
what’s ethical issues AO1 in biopsych?
- researchers must have correct licence and must abide by BPS ethical code in humans
- animals must be treated appropriately procedures
- ppt should be able to withdraw at any time
what’s an ethical study in biopsych?
- HM
- star drawing task is not psychologically or physically harmful for HM
- therefore abides by the BPS guidelines for ethics
what’s an unethical study for biopsych?
- olds and milner
- many rats were given dopamine by electrodes repeatedly which would’ve harmed them psychologically
- breaches guideline of refinement therefore not ethical
what’s a biopsych study that has practical issues?
- heston
- method not most appropriate to investigate schizophrenia as psychiatric status of father wasn’t taken into account
- use of drugs not taken into account either
- therefore, findings not very reliable and can’t be generalised
what’s a biopsych study that has no practical issues?
- raine
- had matched controls on age, sex and ethnicity
- drug tested before
- brain scan most appropriate method to investigate aggression
- brain scans are objective not subjective
- therefore, results and reliable and replicable
what’s a biopsych study that is scientific?
- raine
- high internal validity as matched controls on age, sex and ethnicity
- done in a lab so extraneous variables controlled
- numerical findings so can be compared
- therefore, findings on aggression are directly due to amygdala and pfc activity
what’s a biopsych study that’s not scientific?
- dabbs
- measured saliva in female prisoners for testosterone levels
- found that more aggressive = more testosterone
- however results are correlational as he did not manipulate hormone levels as it’s unethical
- therefore, can’t show a reliable relationship between aggression and testosterone levels
what’s a biological theory that’s developed over time?
PHINEAS GAGE AND RAINE
- PG got brain damage to a metal rod and became illogical and aggressive
- case studies based on observation is not very scientific
- raine showed 41 NGRI criminals had high amygdala and low PFC
- PET scan used, more scientific
- therefore, brain study techniques developed over time and became more scientific
what’s another biological theory that’s developed over time?
- hormones and treatment
- testosterone leads to more aggression as shown by dabbs
- low cortisol = high aggression
- castration is used to reduce testosterone levels
