Psychology Weak topics

Cognitive Approach Beliefs

1. The mind actively processes information from our senses, mental processes.

2. These mental processes can and should be studied scientifically, they studied areas rejected by BA such as memory, perception and thinking.

3. Mental Processes studied indirectly by making inferences.

4. The human mind and computers are very much alike.

SLT key beliefs

1. Learning still involved cognitive mental processes.

2. People learn from observation and imitation of others.

Biological Key Beleiefs

1. All behaviour can be explained using biological processes and structures, everything psychological is at first biological.

2. The mind lives in the brain and all thoughts, feelings and emotions have a physical basis.

3. Biochemical imbalances can affect behaviour.

4. Behaviour can be inherited (determined by genetics/evolution).

5. Brain physiology (brain structure) can affect behaviour.

Traits of Self Actualisation

1. Experience and purpose in life.

2. Acceptance of themselves and others.

3. Independent, spontaneous and creative.

Firing of a neuron

Neuron becomes activated when the cell is positively charged, causing action potential to occur and an electrical impulse which travels down axon to terminal buttons

Localisation of function strength

Dougherty:

• 44 OCD patients

• undergone a cingulotomy

• 32 weeks

• 1/3 successful

• 14% partially successful

What are EEGs

A record of the tiny electrical impulses produced by the brains activity. By measuring characteristic wave patterns the EEG can help diagnose certain conditions of the brain

Evaluation of Circadian Rhythms

• Issues with generalisation: Based on very small samples of participants where there may be individual differences (just one i n the case of Siffre). Duffy revealed that some people have a natural preference for going to bed early and rising early (known as larks) whereas others prefer the opposite('owls). Even Siffre, in a later study, observed that his own sleep/wake cycle had slowed down

• Aspirin for Heart attacks is most effective at night as heart attacks are most likely in the morning

What is the SCN

• A bundle of nerves in the hypothalamus:

• connected to the eye cross in an area called optic chiasm on their way to the visual area of the cerebral cortex

• Receives light info even when eyes closed-enables sleep wake cycle to align with daylight

Decoursey’s procedure

• 30 chipmunks

• 80 day