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Review attachment. Activity 1: Whiteboards test. Activity 2: Multiple choice Activity 3: Exam Questions. Activity 4: The Specification. The Biological Approach. Specification. Start:. What do you know about the biological approach? Basic assumptions? Any biological psychologists?

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  1. Review attachment. Activity 1: Whiteboards test. Activity 2: Multiple choice Activity 3: Exam Questions. Activity 4: The Specification.

  2. The Biological Approach

  3. Specification

  4. Start: • What do you know about the biological approach? Basic assumptions? • Any biological psychologists? • What research methods do they use? • What are their key concepts? • Application? • How useful is the biological approach?

  5. Basic assumptions • “Everything psychological is at first physiological”. • Behaviour is strongly influenced by our genes. • Humans have evolved biologically over millions of years. Behaviours have an evolutionary purpose • Central nervous system plays an essential role in thoughts and behaviour. • Chemical processes in the brain are responsible for many different aspects of psychological functioning (neurotransmitters). • Mind and body dualism.

  6. Genetic basis of behaviour Psychologists are interested in trying to determine and provide evidence for the extent to which behaviours, or a characteristic such as intelligence, are the product of inheritance (genes), or environmental influences

  7. Biological Approach – Research Methods Biological psychologists use highly scientific methods of research. • Laboratory experiments (human and animals) • Observation of behaviour (sleep patterns) • Studies of identical twins brought up together or reared apart to determine the contribution of genes to psychological characteristics. • Case studies of people with brain damage (phineas gage)

  8. Twin studies Psychologists are interested in studying twins in order to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour Zygote A fertilised egg Monozygotic (MZ) One zygote – these twins are formed when a fertilised cell splits into two and forms two separate embryos Dizygotic (DZ) Two zygotes – these twins are formed when two separate eggs both become fertilised by different sperm cells

  9. Twin studies Concordance rates: agreement between This refers to the extent to which a pair of twins share similar traits or characteristics i.e. there should be 100% concordance rates between MZ twins if a particular characteristic /trait is a genetic one DZ twins will show lower concordance rates Comparisons can be made between twins raised together and twins raised apart

  10. Family studies • 1869 - Francis Galton ‘…all natural abilities are inherited’ • This is a simplistic viewpoint – Galton later had to agree that any resemblance between family relatives could be a result of both genes and shared environment • However, with alcoholism for example, there is a suggestion of a biological predisposition to the addiction

  11. Adoption studies These studies involve comparing a trait or characteristic between adopted children and their biological or adoptive parents.

  12. Selective breeding • This method involves artificially selecting male and female animals for a particular trait. • These animals are then put together in order to breed and produce offspring. • Selective breeding has been used to demonstrate how a number of behavioural characteristics may have a genetic basis. e.g. ‘maze bright’ rats

  13. Genetic basis of behaviour • There is evidence from twin, family and adoption studies to suggest that certain behaviours, for example, intelligence, are genetically determined • Research has shown that the environment can play more of a role in determining behaviour than genetics • Selective breeding studies have demonstrated how a number of behavioural characteristics, for example aggression, can have a genetic basis

  14. MZ or DZ?

  15. Why twin and adoption studies?

  16. The role of genes Genes play an important role in shaping our behaviour. 1 agree. 10 disagree.

  17. Genes & BehaviourKey Terms

  18. Genotype and Phenotype Genotype: the genetic make-up of an individual Phenotype: characteristics shown by an individual that are the result of both genes and environment. PKU – recessive genetic disorder - if undetected and untreated PKU will develop into a learning difficulty

  19. Twins • Identical twins are another good example of the interaction between inheritance (genotype) and environment. • They have the same genetic makeup and they look alike, but they possess different phenotypes. • Identical twins have differences that allow those who are close to them to tell them apart. Also, their fingerprints are different. • Twins are genetically the same - any differences you may see between them – for example in personality, tastes and particular aptitudes – are due to differences in their experience or environment.

  20. Genotype and phenotype • The basic units of heredity are called genes • Genes function in pairs and the recombination of genes from parents to offspring provides the basis for genetic variability • Genes only determine the potential for characteristics (genotype) • The observable characteristics of an individual (phenotype) depend on the interaction of genetic and environmental factors.

  21. What is a Genotype? • The actual set of genes an individual has, or is made up of, is a genotype. • The genetic material is made up of DNA, for sexually reproducing organisms, which are given by the sperm and egg of the parents.

  22. What is a Phenotype? • An individual's anatomical features or observed traits, such as behavioural and physical characteristics (shape, metabolic activities, size, and colour, etc.), fall under an individual's phenotype. • These behavioural characteristics and physical attributes are what determines an individual's ability to reproduce and survive in the environment.

  23. The Difference between Genotypes and Phenotypes • The genotype is the genetic programming that provides the phenotype • To a large extent, an individual's phenotype is determined by its genotype. • However, genes are only part of the equation Genotype + environment = phenotype

  24. Example - Hair • Hair is a good example. • An individual's genes determines whether or not they have hair on their head, but how long this hair remains depends on environmental factors, such as excess sunlight, chemicals used on the head, or poor diet. • This shows that phenotype is influenced by the environment

  25. Height • Height is another good example. • A physical characteristic such as height the genotype dictates the maximum height an individual can reach but environmental factors such as nutrition will affect how likely the person is to achieve their potential height. • This shows again that phenotype is influenced by the environment

  26. Activity: Genotype or Phenotype? Task 1: • Complete the task on genotypes and phenotypes.

  27. Genotype and Phenotype

  28. Activity: What conclusions can you draw from the concordance rates of the following:

  29. Concordance rates

  30. Concordance rates for schizophrenia

  31. Concordance rates for depression

  32. Concordance rates for obesity

  33. Concordance rates for IQ

  34. Homosexuality: Nature Vs Nurture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Osw05HGe5I

  35. Concordance rates for homosexuality

  36. How useful are concordance rates? What evidence is there that genes influence our behaviour? How can we criticise this evidence? • Small samples • Difficult to identify a cause and effect relationship

  37. Anxiety: A Genetic Basis? Some people more prone to developing anxiety disorders due to their genetic make-up. (Anxiety – amygdala, norepinephrine) Johnson et al (2000) study showed a biological link between smoking as a teenager and increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder as an adult.

  38. Obesity: Can I blame my parents? Twin studies show that both body weight & shape have a strong genetic link (body fat MZ 0.80 and DZ 0.40 correlation) The number of fat cells in the body is regulated by the hypothalamus. The ease of dieting will depend whether you are your ‘natural’ weight.

  39. Homosexuality: The Gay Gene Bailey et al (1993) MZ twins 50% concordance and DZ twins 20%. But – clearly environment plays a role as 50% of Bailey’s MZ twins were not homosexual!

  40. Chromosomal Abnormalities • Individual genes are located on chromosomes in the nucleas of each cell in our body. 23 pairs of chromosomes. • Down’s syndrome – chromosome 21 • Turner’s syndrome – female only has one X • Huntingdon’s Chorea – chromosome 4

  41. Darwin’s Dangerous Idea Darwin (1859) publishes "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection".

  42. What is evolution and its purpose? https://youtu.be/0JtThSpGzm0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1FWQvaBoRg

  43. Evolution and behaviour Evolution: the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations Charles Darwin emphasised two main concepts in evolutionary theory: • natural selection • sexual selection

  44. Natural selection • Animals with particular traits that provide them with an advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce thereby passing on their ‘adaptive traits’ to their offspring. • These behaviours need to adapt to the environment that the animal is living in which is dependent on three principles: • the principle of diversity - the variety within a species • the principle of interaction - which is how this variety of species adapt and fit in with the environment e.g. animals that breathe air wouldn’t be able to permanently live under water • the principle of differential amplification - those who adapt to their environment will reproduce and those that do not will die out.

  45. Sexual selection • Males have an abundance of sperm and can reproduce with as many females as they want. • Females however, are limited by the amount of eggs she produces and the fact that she has to carry the baby for 9 months and then raise it till the age of 18. • Females therefore will be more particular about who fathers their children due to the investment they have to make.

  46. Evolutionary Psychology All human behaviour has an evolutionary purpose. Buss (1994) Sexual Attitudes in Men & Women. (Studies 37 cultures) Men are more interested in casual sex and prefer younger partners, women are more interested in older partners and are more likely to be jealous about sexual infidelity. What do you think about this study? What are the consequences? Validity?

  47. Fitness

  48. Fitness Yummy!

  49. Arse. Arse. Damn. Fitness: Which ones will survive

  50. Evolution & Psychology Activity Use evolutionary psychology to explain the following behaviour: Rooting Reflex Friendships - our need to be social beings Fight or Flight Sporting Prowess Altruism (helpfulness) Musical ability Fashion sense Humour

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