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Abnormal Psychology > Module 3.3: The Biological Perspective > Flashcards

Module 3.3: The Biological Perspective Flashcards

1
Q

What are mental disorders often viewed as?

A

Mental disorders are often viewed as disorders of the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, and/or the endocrine system that are either inherited or caused by some pathological process

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2
Q

Neurological Diseases

A

+ Results from the disruption of brain functioning by physical or biochemical means and often involves psychological or behavior aberrations
+ The first type of disorders recognized as having biological or organic components

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3
Q

Are most mental disorders caused by neurological damage?

A

Most mental disorders are not caused by neurological damage though – mental disorders can be a by-product of some sort of functional integration of different neural structures (some of which have been “programmed” by personality and learning based on past experience)

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4
Q

What are the four categories of biological factors?

A
  1. Genetic vulnerabilities
  2. Brain dysfunction and neural plasticity
  3. Neurotransmitter and hormonal abnormalities in the brain or other parts of the central nervous system
  4. Temperament
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5
Q

Are the four categories of biological factors independent of one another?

A

No. These categories are not independent of each other but rather interact with one another.

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6
Q

Genes

A

+ Very long molecules of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that are present at various locations on chromosomes
+ The carriers of the information that we inherit from our parents (individuals have two copies of each gene – one from each of our parents)

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7
Q

Do genes fully determine whether a person develops a mental disorder?

A

No. Although genes do not fully determine whether a person develops a mental disorder, there is substantial evidence that most mental disorders show at least some genetic influence

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8
Q

When do genetic sources of vulnerability manifest in an individual usually?

A

Some genetic sources of vulnerability do not manifest themselves until adolescence or adulthood, when most mental disorders appear for the first time

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9
Q

Alleles

A

the alternate forms of the genes

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10
Q

Chromosomes

A

the chain-like structures within a cell nucleus that contain the genes

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11
Q

How many chromosomes does each human have?

A

Each human cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total)

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12
Q

What is the function of the first 22 chromosomes?

A

22 of the chromosome pairs determine (by their biochemical action) an individual’s general anatomical and other physiological characteristics

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13
Q

Sex Chromosomes

A

the remaining pair or the 23rd pair of chromosomes that determines an individual’s sex

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14
Q

What biological sex will a person with XX sex chromosomes have?

A

Female

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15
Q

What biological sex will a person with XY sex chromosomes have?

A

Male

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16
Q

Do chromosomal abnormalities affect personality traits and mental disorders?

A

While abnormalities in the structure or number of chromosomes can be associated with major defects or disorders (e.g. Down syndrome), chromosomal abnormalities do not affect personality traits and mental disorders

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17
Q

Polymorphisms

A

naturally occurring variations of genes which is one of the concepts that influences personality traits and mental disorders

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18
Q

Polygenic

A

influenced by multiple genes or by multiple polymorphisms of genes, with any one gene having only very small effects; vulnerabilities to mental disorders are almost always polygenic

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19
Q

Why can’t genetic influences express themselves in a simple manner through our behavior and personality?

A

Genetic influences rarely express themselves in a simple and straightforward manner, because behavior is not determined exclusively by genetic endowment; it is a product of the organism’s interaction with the environment

20
Q

How do genes affect behavior?

A

Genes can only affect behavior indirectly

21
Q

How do genes interact with the environment?

A

Certain genes can actually be “turned on,” or activated, and “turned off,” or deactivated in response to environmental influences such as stress

22
Q

Genotype

A

a person’s total genetic endowment

23
Q

Are there times that humans have the same genetic makeup?

A

No two humans begin life with the exact same genetic makeup EXCEPT for identical twins

24
Q

Phenotype

A

observed structural and functional characteristics that result from an interaction of the genotype and the environment

25
Q

Genotype-Environment Interactions

A

A model wherein genetic factors are not necessary and sufficient to cause mental disorders but instead can contribute to vulnerability or diathesis to develop psychopathology that only happens if there is a significant stressor in the person’s life; much like the diathesis-stress models

26
Q

Genotype-Environment Correlations

A

Genes can actually shape the environmental experiences a child has, thus affecting the phenotype in important ways

27
Q

What are the three types of gene-environment correlations?

A
  1. Passive Effect
  2. Evocative Effect
  3. Active Effect
28
Q

Passive Effect

A

there is genetic similarity of parents and children which causes parents to reinforce the child’s genes

29
Q

Evocative Effect

A

child’s genotype may evoke particular kinds of reactions from the social and physical environment

30
Q

Active Effect

A

the child seeks out or builds an environment that is congenial

31
Q

Niche-Building

A

the phenomenon when a child is seeking out an environment that is proportionate to their genes

32
Q

Behavior Genetics

A

the field that focuses on studying the heritability of mental disorders (as well as other aspects of psychological functioning)

33
Q

What are the primary methods for studying behavior genetics?

A
  1. Family history (or pedigree) method
  2. Twin method
  3. Adoption method
34
Q

Family history (or pedigree) method

A

requires for an investigator to observe samples of relatives of each proband or index case to see whether the incidence increases in proportion to the degree of hereditary relationship; then, the incidence of the disorder in a normal population is compared (as a control) with its incidence among the relatives of the index case

35
Q

Proband/Index Case

A

the subject, or carrier, of the trait or disorder in question

36
Q

What is the main limitation for family history (or pedigree) method of studying?

A

people who are more closely related genetically also tend to share more similar environments which makes it difficult to disentangle genetic and environmental effects

37
Q

Twin Method

A

genes of twins are investigated to see if mental disorders are heritable; evidence for genetic transmission of a trait or a disorder can be obtained by comparing the concordance rates between identical and nonidentical twins

38
Q

Identical (monozygotic) twins

A

share the same genetic endowment because they develop from a single zygote or fertilized egg

39
Q

Concordance Rate

A

the percentage of twins sharing the disorder or trait

40
Q

What is the concordance rate if a mental disorder is COMPLETELY heritable in identical twins?

A

In identical twins, if a disorder is COMPLETELY heritable it is expected 100% (if one identical twin had a particular disorder, the other twin would as well)

41
Q

Can concordance rates be 100% between identical twins realistically?

A

No. As concordance rates are never 100%, no mental disorder is completely heritable

42
Q

Are concordance rates for identical twins high?

A

Though concordance rates are never 100%, there are still relatively high concordance rates for identical twins in some/more severe forms of psychopathology

43
Q

What are the concordance rates of nonidentical twins compared to identical twins?

A

In nonidentical twins, concordance rates are much lower

44
Q

What has been revealed to be a more important factor in mental disorders according to research?

A

Research reveals evidence that the genetic similarity of twins is more important than the similarity of the parents’ behavior

45
Q

What is the ideal study for the twin method?

A

identical twins who have been reared apart in significantly different environments

Abnormal Psychology (14 decks)

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