The Biological Approach to Psychology

The Biological Approach to Psychology

1. assumptions: genes, brain structures, neuro-chemicals, evolution

   • evolution: human behaviour is inherited to some extent. results from animal studies can apply to humans, we've all evolved
     • biological structures: central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, neuron, endocrine system
       • genotype: genetic makeup of an individual phenotype: the expression of the genotype
         • MZ twins have the same genotype but different phenotype
     • sexual selection is natural selection arising through preference for characteristics in the opposite sex

2. THE LOBES OF THE BRAIN

   • frontal lobe: reasoning, planning, speech & movement, emotions & problem solving
   • parietal lobe: perception of stimuli, e.g. touch, pressure, temperature and pain
   • occipital lobe: concerned with all aspects of vision
   • temporal lobe: perception and recognition of auditory stimuli and memory

3. NERVOUS SYSTEM

   • CNS
     • brain
     • spinal cord
   • PNS
     • SNS
       • skeletal and muscles
     • ANS
       • sympathetic
       • parasympathetic

4. GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

   • ALARM PHASE: short term environmental stress; cortisol and adrenalin released. increased heart rate, blood pressure and breathing; decreased immune response
   • RESISTANCE PHASE: stress is not removed; hormones still being released. heart rate and blood pressure still elevated
   • EXHAUSTION PHASE: body can no longer deal with long term effects of hormone release. heart is damaged, back and neck problems from muscle tension

5. STRENGTHS

   • scientific; reliable & replicable
   • helpful applications = credibility
   • comparable psychology
   • support for nature

6. LIMITATIONS

   • reductionist, no environmental factors considered
   • experiments have low ecological validity
   • deterministic, suggests people can't choose their behaviour
   • evolution isn't believed to be real by all people

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