Biological approach - intro

Question 1

What are the key assumptions/concepts that Genetics influence behaviour?

Answer 1

• influences the traits of our appearance (comes from both parents genes)
• Phenotypes observable characteristics (eye colour, height, blood type) but also behaviour like aggression and intelligence
• Genotype biological structure these are the ones that make up those characteristics

Question 2

What are the key assumptions/concepts that Central Nervous System (CNS) behaviour?

Answer 2

• CNS sends the messages between the brain and our behaviour
• Neurotransmitters (the chemical messages) collaborate with Neurons (dendrites -> axon -> synapse) to tell the brain to command the body parts on their actions by relaying the received Neurotransmitters

Example: recreational drugs alter levels of some neurotransmitters/ neurotransmission inside the brain = behaviours changes

Question 3

What are the key assumptions/concepts that the Brains structure and functioning effect behaviour?

Answer 3

• (structure = vast no. of interconnect neurons) receives input by sensory neurons (for each senses) but also diff info such as pain. these inputs turns into output when sending to the rest of the body
• arranged specifically: prefrontal cortex = personality, expressions, planning of complex behaviours. these personalities have an input to our emotional response and to control social inhibitions

Example: Phineas cage. got shot in the head by metal rod when meddling with gunpowder, through right eye and out of the left side of top of the head = once gentle, ambitious, hard working, well mannered to vulgar, aggressive, anti-social (especially women), ability to control their social inhibitions was lost.

Question 4

What are the key assumptions/concepts that Hormones effect behaviour?

Answer 4

• they’re chemical messengers but travel in the bloodstream + slower rate also effects metabolism, mood, reproduction and sexual functions
• effects occur by environment, time and level of hormone: high = more aggressive (vice versa) + increase if becomes stress in certain situations
• men = higher hormones than women: commit more crimes (5% M has patterns of anti-social behaviour hence 60% - 70% of violent crimes are done by men)

Question 5

What are the key assumptions/concepts that Evolution effects behaviour?

Answer 5

• through natural selections can make you more smarter to stronger depending on what is needed to survive
• natural selections + evolution explains behaviours women desire older = able to food, shelter them etc and men desire younger women’s = more likely chance to reproduce (ovaries are more fresh)

Example: caveman = requires high aggression + strength to survive, eat and protect family (as males was the only that was strong enough)