1|Page
, Biological Psychology Contents
Biological psychology....................................................................................................... 5
Nervous systems........................................................................................................... 5
Neurons......................................................................................................................... 6
Neurotransmitters......................................................................................................... 7
Synaptic transmission................................................................................................ 7
Reuptake.................................................................................................................... 7
Types of neurotransmitters........................................................................................... 8
Dopamine................................................................................................................... 8
Epinephrine................................................................................................................ 8
GABA.......................................................................................................................... 8
Glutamate.................................................................................................................. 8
BIOLOGICAL
Acetylcholine.............................................................................................................. 8
Serotonin.................................................................................................................... 9
Norepinephrine........................................................................................................... 9
PSYCHOLOG
Y
Recreational Drugs...................................................................................................... 10
Reward system and the brain................................................................................... 10
Olds and Milner (1954)............................................................................................. 10
Drugs........................................................................................................................ 10
The Brain..................................................................................................................... 12
The Limbic System................................................................................................... 13
Limbic system and aggression................................................................................. 15
The Brain and Aggression......................................................................................... 15
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,Raine et al. (1997)...................................................................................................... 17
Ethics....................................................................................................................... 18
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 18
Evolutionary approach................................................................................................ 19
Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest............................................................19
Parental investment theory...................................................................................... 19
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 21
Biological approach..................................................................................................... 22
Developmental psychology...................................................................................... 22
Genetics................................................................................................................... 22
Twin studies............................................................................................................. 22
Adoption studies....................................................................................................... 22
Aggressive gene....................................................................................................... 24
Hormones and Aggression....................................................................................... 24
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 25
Brendgan et al (2005)................................................................................................. 26
The study................................................................................................................. 26
Ethics....................................................................................................................... 26
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 27
, Psychodynamic Theory............................................................................................. 27
Model of the mind.................................................................................................... 27
Theory of Personality................................................................................................ 28
Individual differences............................................................................................... 30
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 30
Correlation studies...................................................................................................... 30
Correlation coefficient.............................................................................................. 31
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 31
Spearman’s rank...................................................................................................... 31
Brain scanning techniques.......................................................................................... 32
CT (computerised tomography)................................................................................ 32
PET (positron emission tomography)........................................................................32
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)........................................................32
Practical...................................................................................................................... 33
Key question............................................................................................................... 35
Issues and debates..................................................................................................... 37
Ethics....................................................................................................................... 37
Practical issues with design...................................................................................... 37
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, Psychology as a science........................................................................................... 37
Social sensitivity....................................................................................................... 38
Social control............................................................................................................ 38
Reductionism............................................................................................................ 38
Themes and approaches.......................................................................................... 38
Bias.......................................................................................................................... 39
Hereditary or nurture............................................................................................... 39
4|Page
, Biological Psychology Contents
Biological psychology....................................................................................................... 5
Nervous systems........................................................................................................... 5
Neurons......................................................................................................................... 6
Neurotransmitters......................................................................................................... 7
Synaptic transmission................................................................................................ 7
Reuptake.................................................................................................................... 7
Types of neurotransmitters........................................................................................... 8
Dopamine................................................................................................................... 8
Epinephrine................................................................................................................ 8
GABA.......................................................................................................................... 8
Glutamate.................................................................................................................. 8
BIOLOGICAL
Acetylcholine.............................................................................................................. 8
Serotonin.................................................................................................................... 9
Norepinephrine........................................................................................................... 9
PSYCHOLOG
Y
Recreational Drugs...................................................................................................... 10
Reward system and the brain................................................................................... 10
Olds and Milner (1954)............................................................................................. 10
Drugs........................................................................................................................ 10
The Brain..................................................................................................................... 12
The Limbic System................................................................................................... 13
Limbic system and aggression................................................................................. 15
The Brain and Aggression......................................................................................... 15
2|Page
,Raine et al. (1997)...................................................................................................... 17
Ethics....................................................................................................................... 18
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 18
Evolutionary approach................................................................................................ 19
Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest............................................................19
Parental investment theory...................................................................................... 19
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 21
Biological approach..................................................................................................... 22
Developmental psychology...................................................................................... 22
Genetics................................................................................................................... 22
Twin studies............................................................................................................. 22
Adoption studies....................................................................................................... 22
Aggressive gene....................................................................................................... 24
Hormones and Aggression....................................................................................... 24
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 25
Brendgan et al (2005)................................................................................................. 26
The study................................................................................................................. 26
Ethics....................................................................................................................... 26
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 27
, Psychodynamic Theory............................................................................................. 27
Model of the mind.................................................................................................... 27
Theory of Personality................................................................................................ 28
Individual differences............................................................................................... 30
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 30
Correlation studies...................................................................................................... 30
Correlation coefficient.............................................................................................. 31
Evaluation................................................................................................................ 31
Spearman’s rank...................................................................................................... 31
Brain scanning techniques.......................................................................................... 32
CT (computerised tomography)................................................................................ 32
PET (positron emission tomography)........................................................................32
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)........................................................32
Practical...................................................................................................................... 33
Key question............................................................................................................... 35
Issues and debates..................................................................................................... 37
Ethics....................................................................................................................... 37
Practical issues with design...................................................................................... 37
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, Psychology as a science........................................................................................... 37
Social sensitivity....................................................................................................... 38
Social control............................................................................................................ 38
Reductionism............................................................................................................ 38
Themes and approaches.......................................................................................... 38
Bias.......................................................................................................................... 39
Hereditary or nurture............................................................................................... 39
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