Outline principles that define the biological level of analysis and explain how these principles may be demonstrated through research.
& 2. Outline principles that define the biological level of analysis and explain how these principles may be demonstrated through research. The three principles that define the biological level of analysis are: 1. There are biological correlates to behaviour, cognition and emotion 2. Animal research can give us an insight into human behaviour 3. Behaviour can be inherited. These three principles can be demonstrated and have been confirmed in research. Firstly, biological correlates to behaviour, cognition and emotion have been established through mainly the use of case and correlational studies. For example in cognition, Baker et al (1999) examined 18 ordinary children and 26 children diagnosed as having ADHD and found that Phenylethylamine levels were much lower in the ADHD subjects. Later studies done by T. Matsuishi et al (1999) and A. Kusaga (2002) have also shown this and it is now believed that the neurotransmitter Phenylethylamine is a biological correlate to ADHD. The first principle, that "there are biological correlates to behaviour" can be demonstrated by finding the link between a hormone/body part/neurotransmitter to a certain behaviour in the human population. Secondly as experimenting on humans is often ethically and morally wrong, research on animals can be easier to carry out, and it has been confirmed that animal research can give an insight into
Examine How Physiological Processes May Influence Psychological Behavior or Vice Versa, Using a Research Study To Illustrate Your Point (8 marks)
Examine How Physiological Processes May Influence Psychological Behavior or Vice Versa, Using a Research Study To Illustrate Your Point (8 marks) An important psychological process that influences physiological factors is stress. Stress is a phrase first coined by Hans Selye and his definition was that stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand on it (1978). Selye also modeled stress as G.A.S or General Adaptation Syndrome and split it into three parts. The initial, acute reaction is called the "flight or fight" impulse, so the heart rate rises, the blood pressure rises, the autonomic nervous system shuts off digestion because of the release of hormones called adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal gland. If the stress continued through this phase, which cannot be maintained long, the body goes into the resistance phase. Here the body learns to cope with the stress and the outward signs of arousal disappear, while internally there is a steady increased hormonal production. If the stress does not go away over a long period of time the final stage of the body is exhaustion. Selye argued that this is reached when the body's resources are depleted which results in sickness or death. Autopsies in animals put under stress over a long period of time showed an enlarged adrenal gland, ulcers on the lining of the stomach and shrinkage in the hypothalamus
A. In the context of human behavior outline one theory from the humanistic perspective (4 marks) and B. Explain one way in which methodology or cultural considerations have an impact on theory outlined in A (4 marks).
A. In the context of human behavior outline one theory from the humanistic perspective (4 marks). In our society most of people wish their American dream happened - they wish to win on a lottery, quit their jobs and live free lives, travelling and spending the money. Yet, the studies show that many lottery winners actually stay in their jobs or open their own companies. Is it just the will to earn even more or something else. Maslow came up with an idea that this is because having the money is most basic need fulfilled by working. Thanks to money we can buy food, shelter, clothes and other necessities - so they can fulfill our physiological and safety needs. However Maslow suggested that there is a hierarchy of needs and those two are just at the bottom. He claimed that people stay in work because they have friends in there. Though they can also satisfy their love and belongingness needs. Moreover, by staying at work and climbing up the ladder of career they can get respected and thus satisfy their need of esteem - the last necessary need to be fulfilled in order for self-actualization process to occur. Self-actualization is argued by Maslow to be the most advanced human need, based on desire to grow and use one's capacities to their fullest. Everyone has the need for it, however all other needs (deficiency needs) have to be fulfilled to start self-actualization. B. Explain
Psychology discuss one contribution of the learning perspective to the scientific study of behaviour
Discuss One Contribution of the Learning Perspective to the Scientific Study of Behaviour The learning perspective was the first major perspective in psychology which tried to prove its theories in a scientific sense. As such behaviourist psychologists tried to use laboratory experiments to try and prove their theories like scientists and this was their contribution to the scientific study of behaviour as other perspectives followed in their wake. A good demonstration of how the learning perspective uses laboratory experiments in order to help prove its theories is how Pavlov's dog experiment was used to show classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is a form of learning that was first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov. The typical procedure for inducing classical conditioning involves presentations of a neutral stimulus along with a stimulus of some significance. The neutral stimulus could be any event that does not result in an overt behavioral response from the organism under investigation. Pavlov referred to this as a conditioned stimulus (CS). Conversely, presentation of the significant stimulus necessarily evokes an innate, often reflexive, response. Pavlov called these the unconditioned stimulus (US) and unconditioned response (UR), respectively. If the CS and the US are repeatedly paired, eventually the two stimuli become associated and the organism begins to
A. Describe one cognitive explanation of human behavior making reference to one empirical study (4 marks) and B. Describe one strength and one limitation of this explanation of human behavior (4 marks).
A. Describe one cognitive explanation of human behavior making reference to one empirical study (4 marks). Elizabeth Loftus found out that people's memory is not so accurate as it has been thought. We cannot accurately re-create what we have experienced. Instead, we rather reconstruct an actual event. This reconstructive memory is combined existing information with the new one to fill in the gaps. By her studies, she proved that the wording of a question using a false presuppositions can add new and false information to the knowledge about the event over time. In her studies she asked questions such as "How many people were in the car that was speeding?". It falsely presupposes that the car was actually speeding and after some period of time the same people were asked was the car speeding with bigger results in yes answer than before the falsely presupposed question was asked. B. Describe one strength and one limitation of this explanation of human behavior (4 marks). The strength of this explanation is that there is another prove for it to be right - there are many cases in which after 20 years or more it is proven that suspect has been sentenced to prison or death actually being innocent - it is because courts over-rely on the memory of eyewitness which can be easily altered due to a lot of gaps - having no clue what to associate something with. However, there is also a
Dysfunctional behavior
Compare the basic assumptions of two models or theories of dysfunctional behavior. [20 marks] Abnormality is the behavior or characteristic that is considered as abnormal but still allows an individual to function properly in society. Dysfunctional behavior, such as aggression, is the type of behaviors that does not allow an individual to function properly or normally in society. Every model of abnormality each has different assumptions about causes of dysfunctional behavior. The biological model is based on the assumptions that if the brain and biochemicals mediate psychological processes, so any abnormal or dysfunctional behaviors are determined physically and biologically. Thus, biological model assumes genetic, organic or chemical disorders cause mental illness which gives rise to psychological symptoms. The behavioral model is based upon the behaviorist or learning theory approach. It believes that external or environmental factors are mainly responsible for psychological illness, so dysfunctional behavior just simply occurs when maladaptive responses have been learnt or adaptive responses have not been learnt. Therefore, only observable behavior disorder needs to be fixed. Both models of dysfunctional behavior use laboratory experiment to investigate the causes of dysfunctional behavior. They are able to study on and record any behavior that can be seen or hear,
PLAN - Discuss three sampling techniques appropriate to qualitative research
Discuss three sampling techniques appropriate to qualitative research * The purpose is to generate samples that are representative through random selection of participants * Classified as either probability (related to statistical probability and representativeness) or non-probability sampling. * Presents key characteristics of a population which can then be evaluated * Samples are small and not intended to be statistically representative. The three types of sampling: Purposive Sampling * Targets a particular group of people * The participants are chosen on the basis of particular characteristics that will help the researcher to explore their chosen topic. (Important to have diversity) * Useful in situations where the researcher needs to obtain a sample quickly to investigate an urgent problem. * May also be the only option, if the desired population for the study is rare or difficult to locate. * A big problem is that the sample may be biased * Believe that if the sampling process is based on objective criteria, and these are clearly documented or explained, the bias is limited. * Population Validity - cannot generalise from a particular group of people Snowball Sampling * A way of sampling which is used to get hold of participants without investing a lot of time and energy. * Researcher simply asks participants in the study if they know potential