Explanations of anorexia nervosa
explanations of anorexia . The biological explanations of anorexia are interesting but inconclusive. One attempt hasfocused on genetic factors - with ambiguous results. Holland et al. (1988) found thataround 56% of identical (MZ) twins are concordant for thedisorder, compared with 5%for DZ twins; Hsu (1990), after an extensive literature review, found a 47% concordancerate for (DZ) twins and 10% rate for non-identical (DZ) twins. However, the fact thatrelatives of anorexics run a higher risk than the general population of also becominganorexic does not, according to Frude (1998), suggest that a firm genetic link for anorexiacan be inferred. Instead, the shared family environment may account for these findings.MZ twins are often discordant for the condition & genetic explanations offer no practical possibilities for treatment. Kaye et al. (1988) suggests that a dysfunctioning hypothalmus may offer a partial explanation for anorexia. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) produces hunger & the ventromedial hypothalamus (VH) depresses hunger. The hypothalamus regulates hungersensation and instigates the eating impulse, however, animal studies have shown thatwhen the hypothalamus is in some way damaged, this process is disrupted. One theory isthat a reduction of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine (epinephrine is a synonym ofadrenalin) can disturb the operation of the
Outline and Evaluate the biological model to Abnormality.
Aleksander Filipczak Outline and Evaluate the biological model to Abnormality. The biological approach sees mental disorders being caused by abnormal physiological processes in the body. Therefore, any abnormality must have specific causes that happen in some bodily malfunction or genetic factors etc. For this model, the cure is to remove such the root cause, thus returning the body's status to "normal". This model is called the biological or medical model, due to the reason that it approaches mental illness diagnosis with a similarity to that of physical illnesses. Due to the model being very scientific in nature of investigation and understanding the psychological illness, it is most widely accepted model to psychological abnormality around the world. The biological model states, that all mental disorders are related to some change in the body, such as brain damage, genes, infection or biochemistry. Many abnormalities with the brain might occur due to genetic inheritance, which means that the abnormality was passed down from parent to child. A way of investigating this is by studying pairs of identical twins. They can be compared to each other (due to identical genetic structure) , and therefore see, that if abnormality is passed down by genetics, if one twin has a disorder, then the second should also have it, which gives us concordance rates. Research suggests that
Biological Explanations for Eating Behaviour
Biological Explanations for Eating Behaviour The first study into eating behaviours was Canon and Wasburn (1912) they conducted a study in which the stomach would contract to indicate hunger and satiety. This research tells us that the strength of the gastric contraction correlated with the hunger and satiety of the participant. The participant was requested to push a button to indicate when they felt hungry. This shows that when we are hungry our brain sends signals to the stomach so that it can contract. A limitation of the study is that it contained one participant so it cannot be generalised. The part of the brain which receives signals of satiety is called the Ventromedial Hypothalamus it is located in the Hypothalamus and controls the amount we eat. A study that provides evidence for the role it plays and explains the significance of this evidence is Hetherington and Ranson, they summarised that rats with lesions to Ventromedial Hypothalamus became overweight. They concluded that destruction of the VH which was responsible for controlling feeding behaviour this then lead to an increase in feeding and body weight. It was then assumed that the rat's satiety centre was not working correcting which usually indicates when we're full. At the time of the study it couldn't be said whether or not the study accurately showed the role of the VN however later studies have had
Discuss the nature of sleep, including two explanations of the functions of sleep
Discuss the nature of sleep, including two explanations of the functions of sleep The restoration theory of sleep involves sleeping to recover, repair and to grow. Oswald stated that REM sleep is needed to replenish neurotransmitters in the brain and help the brain recover, while NREM sleep is used to restore bodily processes and functions. Oswald also said that sleep restores energy, removes waste from the body and repairs cells. There is a lot of empirical evidence to support this, for example babies undergo far more REM sleep compared to an adult - this can be explained because of the amount of energy a growing brain requires due to increased protein synthesis for cellular growth; this study has high ecological validity because it is a naturalistic experiment and it can also be generalised to all babies as they all undergo large amounts of REM sleep. Most human growth hormone is released during the first stages of sleep; this supports the restoration theory as growth hormone is necessary for growth and repair, however despite a correlation we cannot imply cause and effect, that the burst of growth hormone is related to restoration functions in sleep. Another source of empirical evidence is that people who have damaged their brain in cases such as drug overdoses, spend longer in REM sleep which supports the theory that REM sleep is when the brain recovers and repairs,
There are many relaxation techniques for stress but in this essay it will look at two techniques: Biofeedback and Stress Inoculation Training.
Stress There are many relaxation techniques for stress but in this essay it will look at two techniques: Biofeedback and Stress Inoculation Training. Baynard, P (2002) believes “The principle behind biofeedback is that we gain control over bodily functions and actions if we are aware of what is happening”. The three most commonly used forms of biofeedback therapy are Electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle tension, Neurofeedback or electroencephalography (EEG) which measures muscle brain wave activity and Thermal biofeedback, which measures skin temperature. Biofeedback is used for several conditions some of which include stress, anxiety, insomnia, blood pressure and ADHD. During biofeedback, sensors are placed on the body. These sensors measure the bodily function that is causing the patient problem symptoms such as the muscle tension, heart rate, brain waves, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature. It then translates the information into a visual and/or audible readout, for example a series of beeps or a light display. (MedicineNet, Publication unknown). After recognising what situation is proving stressful a therapist finds a way to lower the results of the patient, by dealing with them differently through mental exercises and relaxation techniques. The feedback signals then reflect the achievement when a person manages to lower their blood
Aggression Essay Plan
Sophie Courtier Aggression Essay plans GENETIC EXPLANATION OF AGGRESSION – PLAN. A01 Brief intro – Nature VS Nurture – What extent aggression is due to genetic factors. Psychologists look at levels of aggression in closely related individuals as levels of aggression between the two individuals will be more similar if closely related (If aggressive behaviour is down to genes). Twin Studies Levels of aggression in Mono-zygotic twins (who share 100% of genes) are compared with levels of aggression in Dizygotic Twins (who share 50% of genes). Similarities in aggressive behaviour should be greater in mono-zygotic twins if genetic factors ARE a significant factor. . Using twins in studies enables researchers to control extraneous variables such as environmental factors as Mz and Dz twins will have been brought up in the same environment. . However, it is argued that Mono-zygotic twins may be treated more similarly than Di-zygotic twins. Adoption Studies Researchers compare an adopted child with either a biological parent or their adoptive parent. If genetics is a major factor of aggression, then we would expect similarity between child and biological parents. (E.g. father has history of violent crimes). . Difficult to tell whether aggressive behaviour is due to extraneous variables. Gene for aggression Monoamine Oxidase A Gene responsible for producing a
Describe the biological (medical) model of abnormality and evaluate it in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. (12 marks)
Describe the biological (medical) model of abnormality and evaluate it in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. (12 marks) The biological model of abnormality assumes that there is an underlining physiological cause of psychological disorders. Such disorders are considered as illness in the same way as the body can be affected by illnesses. The model includes the idea that genetic factors may be important in psychological disorders. As identical twins are 100% genetically identical and fraternal twins don’t share all of their genes, identical twins might be more similar if a condition is inherited. Gottesman (1991) conducted a meta-analysis of twin studies, and found that people had a 48% chance of developing schizophrenia if their identical twin had the condition. This reduced to 17% with non-identical twins. This suggests that schizophrenia could have a genetic basis. Another explanation of abnormality is that it is caused by biochemical imbalance. For example, the dopamine hypothesis suggests that excess dopamine may cause schizophrenia. Evidence for this includes the effects of drugs such as amphetamines, which increase dopamine levels and can result in behaviour similar to schizophrenia. However, an alternative explanation is that people with schizophrenia are more sensitive to dopamine, rather than they have more of the chemical. Because the medical model
Freud and Karen Horney were two very important figures in psychology.
Anthropology Karen Horney was born in September 16 in the year 1885. She dealt with depression throughout her life but majority of her depression was at a young age. Her father Berndt Danielson was a ships captain, a religious man, and an authoritarian. Karen described him as a strict disciplinarian and because of that became closer to her brother. When her brother distant himself from her she became even more depressed and alone. She would than devote herself to school because she believed that “If I couldn’t be pretty, I decided I would be smart”. She started medical school in the fall of 1906 and got married to a fellow law student in 1909. Her husband died in 1930, which caused her to move to the United States. It was there that she began her psychology theories and met prominent and intellectual friends and doctors; one of which is Freud. Freud came up with a theory stating that women have features that create insecurities of being female and would be instead a male because of the contrast in anatomy. Karen believed the opposite of Freud; she believed that men had insecurities and that they envied female anatomy. Karen did agree with Freud on one aspect; that females envy male. She agreed with him not because of the male anatomy but through the status society gives men. Another theory they both had different views on was the theory of defense mechanism. Freud
Discuss the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression
Discuss the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression The role of hormonal mechanisms play a significant role in aggression as high levels of testosterone and low levels of cortisol have been proven to influence aggressive behaviour. Testosterone has been thought to act on areas of the brain which control aggression from young childhood onwards because it lowers serotonin in the brain which leads to aggression as serotonin inhabits responses to environmental stimuli. Lindman et al (1987) found aggressive behaviour in drunken males positively correlated with testosterone levels. Cortisol is the other hormonal mechanism which inhibits other hormones such as testosterone. High levels of this are positive sign for the human body as it in effectively causes a reduction in aggression. However low levels are associated with increased aggression, Vikuuen (1985) found low levels of cortisol in habitual violent offenders. As well as Hormonal mechanisms there are neural mechanisms that are associated with aggression. Low levels of serotonin are associated with increased susceptibility to impulse behaviour, aggression and violent suicide. Tamed animals have higher levels of serotonin than their wild ancestors. House cats are often beat up by wild cats due to their reduced aggression. High levels of dopamine are also associated with aggression. The link is not as well
Describe and evaluate two models of abnormality as explanations and treatment tools for anorexia.
Describe and evaluate two models of abnormality as explanations and treatment tools for anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder and a mental health condition. Literally translated it means ‘nervous lack of appetite’. A person suffering from anorexia has an intense fear of becoming overweight and thus employs strict controls over their intake of food. (Flanagan, 2000) There are guidelines of symptoms outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM) that enable a diagnosis to be made on an individual suspected of suffering from anorexia. The DSM-iv classification of this disorder lists the following as symptoms of anorexia: The patient refuses to maintain a minimum body weight (e.g. 85% of expected weight for their age and height); the patient intensely fears becoming overweight despite being emaciated; self-perception of the body is abnormal i.e. the patient believes themselves to be overweight or denies the seriousness of their low weight; due to weight loss, a female patient has missed at least 3 consecutive periods, or periods occur only when she is given hormones. (Disorder Information Sheet, 2003) There are several psychological approaches that endeavour to explain the causes of eating disorders and offer appropriate treatment, such as the psychoanalytical model
