Biological Approach
- Created by: Ffion Barry
- Created on: 22-03-15 17:51
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- Biological Approach
- Assumptions
- Neurotransmitters
- Nervous system is formed of neurons
- Neurons communicate @ a synapse
- NTs are released & cross the gap to deliver the info
- Involved in certain behaviours
- Too much dopamine= schizophrenic symptoms
- Genes
- Certain behaviours are inherited
- Some are determined by a single gene
- e.g eye colour
- Most are determined by many genes
- e.g intelligence
- For example, children who's parents have schiz are 18X more likely to get it themselves
- Neurotransmitters
- Theory
- Seyle's research with rats
- Aim: To investigate how rats respond to different stressors
- Procedure: Rats exposed to variety of stressors
- E.g extreme cold, lethal injections, etc
- Findings:
- 6-48hrs: triad of symptoms e.g enlarged adrenal glands, stomach ulcers, weakened immune system
- 1-3 months: symptoms returned after dissapearing
- GAS model
- 1. Alarm reaction: SNS is activated, heart& breathing rates increase= more O2 so we can run away
- Fight/flight response
- 2. Resistance: If threat remains, body moves to long term protection, hormones are released
- E.g cortisol increases blood sugar to give us more energy
- 3. Exhaustion: a high level of hormones such as cortisol can impair immune functioning
- 1. Alarm reaction: SNS is activated, heart& breathing rates increase= more O2 so we can run away
- Seyle's research with rats
- Therapy- chemotherapy
- Assumption- Psycho disorders are the result of an imbalance of NTs
- Therefore, they can be treated by drugs that block receptors
- Anti-psychotic drugs: alters the effect of chemicals, e.g dopamine, in the brain by binding 2 receptors
- E.g chlorpromazine
- Prevents hallucinations&severe mood swings. Treats anxiety, schiz, &depression
- Anti-anxiety drugs: lowers blood pressure by blocking the effect of hormones. Treats OCD, stress, & ADHD
- e.g beta-blockers
- Anti-depressant drugs: increases levels of seretonin. Encourages neurons to make more NTs. Reduces feelings of stress & anxiety
- E.g SSRIs
- Treats OCD, stress, ADHD etc
- Wahlbeck- not effective for everyone: 30% do not respond
- Assumption- Psycho disorders are the result of an imbalance of NTs
- Methodology
- Brain scans
- Assumption: behaviour is explained through hormone&NT activity in the brain
- Allows psychologists to view brain activity
- CAT scan: injected dye
- MRI scan: magnetic field
- PET scans: radioactive glucose
- Scientific, high reliability
- unethical, low validity
- Twin studies
- Looks for similarities/differences between genetically related people
- A concordance rate is used- 100% means identical
- MZ&DZ twins are investigted
- Scientific, determinist, high in validity
- Reductionist, naturist, lacks external reliability
- Brain scans
- Strengths
- Determinist
- Approach assumes that all human behaviour is dtermined by genes etc
- Brain structure suggests we don't have free willover our behaviour
- If we know what pre-determines out behaviour, we will be able to treat abnormal behaviour
- Scientific
- Approach is based on the assumptions of genes, hormones etc
- Research is objective, falsifiable, replicale etc. For example, Seyle's research
- Determinist
- Weaknesses
- Naturist
- Tends to ignore life experiences and psycho factors e.g how people think&feel
- For example, Seyle's research doesn't take into account the rats' individual behaviour
- Reductionist
- Reduces complex behaviours into simple explanations
- oversimplifies the complexities of human behaviour
- Naturist
- Assumptions
- Anti-anxiety drugs: lowers blood pressure by blocking the effect of hormones. Treats OCD, stress, & ADHD
- e.g beta-blockers
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