Biological Psychology
- Created by: EliseJ
- Created on: 30-04-18 09:11
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- Biological Psychology
- Intro
- Examines effects of brain structure + function on behaviour
- E.g. hormones, chemicals + electrical activity of brain
- Biological Psychologist - try to identify specific parts of brain involved in controlling behaviour
- Study people w/brain damage - identify area damaged + subsequent beahviour chnage
- Biological psychologists - largest influence of behaviour = genetics
- Researchers focus on study of identical twins
- Comparing two variables = correlation
- If genetic factors are important in determining behaviour then aggression score for twins will be similar
- Researchers focus on study of identical twins
- Examines effects of brain structure + function on behaviour
- Brain functioning and aggression
- Amygdala
- Instinctive feeling or reaction to environment
- Stimulation to amygdala causes aggressive behaviour
- Lesions of the area reduce competitive drive + aggression
- damage can occur through stroke, tumour or developmental problems
- some areas of damage may lead to amygdala reacting in over fearful way or not reacting to fear at all
- overtly aggessive responses = amygdala misinterpreting info from senses/cortex + respond incorrectly
- hypothalamus
- shown to cause aggression when electrically stimulated - has receptors that help determine aggression levels based on interaction w/serotonin + vasopressin
- maintains stability of body in change
- maintains regulation of hormones i.e testosterone - implicated in aggression
- male prisoners with extra y chromosome often imprisoned for violent crimes - increased testosterone
- maintains regulation of hormones i.e testosterone - implicated in aggression
- two neurotransmitters = aggression = serotonin + dopamine
- Low levels serotonin - high levels dopamine = aggression
- Serotonin linked w/ prefrontal cortex role of planning - normal levels have calming inhibitory effect on neuronal firing in prefrontal cortex
- low levels serotonin may disrupt the calm firing of neurons- indivs less able to resist aggressive impulse
- Amygdala
- Role of hormones to explain human behaviour
- Endocrine system comprised of glands - secrete hormones into bloodstream - may travel act on target structures
- Hormones = similar function to neurotransmitters
- However hormones act over greater distance
- as hormones enter bloodstream take longer to produce change in behaviour
- However hormones act over greater distance
- some hormones produced by body are adrenaline + cortisol from the adrenals
- melatonin from pineal gland
- oxytocin from pituitary gland + hypothalamus
- testosterone + oestrogen from gonads (testes/ovary)
- oxytocin from pituitary gland + hypothalamus
- melatonin from pineal gland
- Hormones + aggression
- hormones affect behaviour + cause physical change to body
- hormones naturally occurring secretion + perceived as providing reversible therapies for some clinical conditions i.e. aggressiveness
- testosterone = androgen which develops + maintains male characteristics
- Higher levels of androgen associated w/increased agonistic behaviour - reduction of androgenic compounds may reduce aggression
- androgens important in sex-related aggression - indication play role in generalised irritable aggression
- critical period following birth - testosterone stimulates cell growth in hypothalamus + amygdala - sets up action of testosterone as an adult
- hormone cortisol thought to inhibit aggression
- having a mediating effect on other hormones related to aggression (testosterone)
- high levels of cortisol inhibit aggression
- cortisol increases anxiety + likelihood of social withdrawal
- having a mediating effect on other hormones related to aggression (testosterone)
- Individual differences + developmental psychology
- male sex hormone testosterone important in human development - increase aggression
- testosterone may influence areas of brain that control behavioural reactions (amygdala + hypothalamus)
- also influences other hormones - vasopressin
- testosterone may influence areas of brain that control behavioural reactions (amygdala + hypothalamus)
- males naturally produce more testosterone than women - those born w/extra Y chromosome more aggressive
- variation within species affects development - species survive have mutation advantage
- sexual selection = adaptations making species more likely to mate
- hormones affect development - hormones sent to target cells by impulses which initiate specific responses
- male sex hormone testosterone important in human development - increase aggression
- Intro
- hypothalamus
- shown to cause aggression when electrically stimulated - has receptors that help determine aggression levels based on interaction w/serotonin + vasopressin
- maintains stability of body in change
- maintains regulation of hormones i.e testosterone - implicated in aggression
- male prisoners with extra y chromosome often imprisoned for violent crimes - increased testosterone
- maintains regulation of hormones i.e testosterone - implicated in aggression
- two neurotransmitters = aggression = serotonin + dopamine
- Low levels serotonin - high levels dopamine = aggression
- Serotonin linked w/ prefrontal cortex role of planning - normal levels have calming inhibitory effect on neuronal firing in prefrontal cortex
- low levels serotonin may disrupt the calm firing of neurons- indivs less able to resist aggressive impulse
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