BIOLOGICAL APPROACH

3 Main Assumptions

1. Evolutionary Influences

2. Localisation of Brain Function

3. Neurotransmitters

Who created the theory of evolution

Charles Darwin

Researcher who claimed that the formation of romantic relationships is driven by evolution

Trivers

When genes within evolved families are more likely to be passed to each new generation its called

Survival of the fittest

Females look for a males who are

Resources - can provide and has power for the offspring

Muscles - protection for offspring

Males look for women who are

young,

fertile

healthy

hourglass shape (helps in bearing the child )

Process where people who adapt to their environment tend to survive and produce offspring is called

Natural Selection

Example for Evolutionary Influences

Altruism - adaptive behaviour - parents risk their lives to save their offspring

They see offspring as a genetic investment - increasing chance of a gene pool surviving

Frontal Lobe

responsible for problem solving, decision making and motor skills

Parietal Lobe

responsible for sensory processes such as pain and touch

Occipital Lobe

responsible for interpreting visual stimuli and information such as recognizing colours and words

Temporal

responsible for auditory information such as sounds and hearing different languages

Example for localisation of brain function

Phineas Gage experienced a traumatic head injury

Iron rod driven through his skull

Damage to his frontal lobe

“Gage wasn’t gage anymore“

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that pass signals from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron across the synapse (the small gap between the neurons).

presynaptic neuron

the one sending a message

postsynaptic neuron

the one receiving a message

synapse

the small gap between the neurons

Dopamine

feelings of pleasure, addiction, movement and motivation

Seretonin

contributes towards well being and happiness

Oxytocin

love hormone

Example for neurotransmitters

Low levels of serotonin lead to depression

Low levels of _______________ lead to depression

Serotonin

The main assumption of the biological approach is that all psychological behaviour is the result of _______________ rather than psychological processes.

physical

The biological approach follows the _______________ model which states all psychological illnesses should be treated with ___________________ methods as opposed to the psychological kind.

medical

physical

The biological approach assumes that one of the underlying causes of all 'normal' behaviour is the role that ____________________________ have to play.

Neurotransmitters

These are chemical messengers that pass signals from the presynaptic neuron to the post synaptic neuron across the _______________________.

synapse

This approach assumes the cause of abnormal behaviour is the result of faulty neurotransmitters for example a person with low levels of ___________________ may develop mental health conditions such as _____________________

serotonin

depression

Therefore the aim of drug therapy is to increase/decrease the number of neurotransmitters in the _______________ in order for the individual to live a more functional life.

brain

Blocking receptor sites

preventing the messenger from being passed on

Inhibiting reuptake

prevent the reuptake of NT from the synapse cleft (increase)

Improving the break down of molecules following release for example may be effective in alleviating symptoms

prevent the release of NT from the pre - synapse neuron (decrease)

three main types of drugs

antipsychotics

antidepressants

antianxiety

what do antipsychotics do

prevent the release of NT block receptor sites

What do antidepressants do?

Prevents the reuptake leading to an increase in serotonin levels

What do antianxiety drugs do?

Prevent the release of the NT Block Receptor Sites

Drug Therapy STRENGTH

Drugs Vs Placebos

Drug Therapy Weakness

Side Effects

Drug Therapy Ethical Consideration

Lack of Valid Consent

Risk of Harm

Raine's experiment was a __________________ experiment

Quasi

The IV was ________________________

NGRI's and Non NGRIS

The DV was ___________________________

whether the participants showed signs of brain dysfunction

A matched pair design was used which meant that

each murderer was matched with a control participant of the same age and gender

The experimental group consisted of

41 participants

_____ were men and __________ were women

39

2

with a mean age of

34.3 years

they had been charged with either

murder or manslaughter

Evidence was obtained using PET scanning for a

insanity defence

All murderers were instructed to be

medication free

which was checked with a

urine test

___ weeks prior to brain scanning

two

A control group was formed by

matching each murderer with a normal participant of the same sex and age.

The mean age of the control group was

31.7 years

the ______ schizophrenics were matched with the _______ scizophrenics

6 6

the controls neither had history of _________________________ or _________________________

pyschiatric issues

physical illness

and none were taking _________________________

medication

The participants were obtained through _________________________ sampling

opportunity

A PET scan was used to study the

active brain of both the murderers and the control group

The participants were given a chance to _________________________ the CPT.

practise

The task is designed to _________________________

activate the parts of the brain the researchers were interested in

Participants _________________________ the CPT

started

The radioactive tracer was then injected into each participant after

30 seconds

After ______ minutes a PET scan was done of each participant

32

A PET scan involves the use of a

radioactive tracer FDG

When a part of the brain is active it uses _____________. Radioactive detectors in the PET scan can then see _______________________________ allowing researchers to see the ____________ parts of the brain

glucose

radioactive areas

active

________ horizontal slices were made using the ____________________________ technique.

10

box and peel

All linked to violence (REDUCED )

PLCL

Prefrontal Cortex

Left angular gyrus

Corpus callosum

Left hemisphere

All not linked to violence (INCREASED)

CR

Cerebellum

Right hemisphere

No differences

Both groups performed similarly on the CPT. Therefore the differences in brain acitivity cannot be linked to the performance on the task

Other differences

handedness,

ethnicity,

head injury

The results support _________________________ which has identified links between _________________________ and _________________________ .

previous research

areas of the brain

aggression

The findings of the study suggest that the _________________________ underlying violence are _________________________ and cannot be reduced to a _________________________ causing violence in a direct _________________________

neural processes

complex

single brain mechanism

casual fashion

Factors that predispose violence

biological factors

environmental

social

psychological

cultural

situational

findings do not establish link between

brain dysfunction and violence

the data does not demonstrate that murderers _________________________ are not responsible for their _________________________ , nor do they demonstrate that _________________________ can be used as a _________________________ ,

pleading NGRI

actions

PET scans

Diagnostic technique

These findings cannot be _________________________ at the present date from _________________________ cases to other types of _________________________

generalised

NGRI murder

violent offenders

EVALUATION STRENGTH

Social Implications

PET SCANS

EVALUATION WEAKNESS

Valid Consent