IB Psychology HL

Explain one study related to localization of function. Localisation of brain function refers to the theory that psychological functions are located in specific areas of the brain. This means that certain brain structures or brain regions are in charge of particular behaviours, cognitions, and emotions. One study that was made investigating the localisation of function was the study by Maguire et al. in 2000, where they were researching the spatial memory which is a function of the hippocampus. The study made by Maguire et al. in 2000 aimed to examine possible changes in the brain of taxi driver, and specifically focusing on the development of the spatial memory in the hippocampus. The researchers also wanted to find out if there was a correlation between the duration that the taxi drivers had been working and the size of the hippocampus. The participants of this study were 16 males. They were all right-handed, physically healthy and between the ages of 32 and 62 years. They were ...

Outline two principles that define the biological level of analysis. The biological level of analysis argues that there are physiological origins of behaviour and that human beings should be studied as biological systems. This means that we should also consider how the environment and cognition may interact with biological systems and affect physiology, as this is a bidirectional relationship. A bidirectional relationship simply means that two things can affect each other, such as biology can affect cognition and cognition can affect biology. There are multiple principles that define the biological of analysis, which means that these create the basis for the theories within this area of analysis, and two of them are patterns of behaviour can be inherited and non-human animal research can inform understanding of human behaviour. The first principle is patterns of behaviour can be inherited. This means that human behaviours, cognitions, and emotions can to some extent be explained ...

The biological level of analysis argues that there are physiological origins of behaviour and that human beings should be studied as biological systems. This means that we should also consider how the environment and cognition may interact with biological systems and affect physiology, as this is a bidirectional relationship. A bidirectional relationship simply means that two things can affect each other, such as biology can affect cognition and cognition can affect biology. There are multiple principles that define the biological of analysis, which means that these create the basis for the theories within this area of analysis, and two of them are patterns of behaviour can be inherited and non-human animal research can inform understanding of human behaviour. The first principle is patterns of behaviour can be inherited. This means that human behaviours, cognitions, and emotions can to some extent be explained through genetic inheritance and evolutionary adaptations. Studies that...

5.2 Discuss validity and reliability of diagnosis. Diagnosis Diagnosis within abnormal psychology means identifying and classifying abnormal behaviour on the basis of symptoms, the patients’ self-reports, observations, clinical tests or other factors such as information from relatives. Clinicians use psychological assessment and diagnostic manuals to make diagnosis. The diagnostic manuals help to classify and standardize diagnosis. Diagnosis involves matching the results of the psychological assessment with classification systems such as DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10. The purpose of diagnosis is to find a treatment for the patient and to make a prognosis. Diagnostic manuals DSM-IV, now in its fourth revised version, is developed by the American Psychiatric Association. The manual lists what it terms “mental disorders”. For each of the 300 disorders there is a list of symptoms that the clinician could look for in order to diagnose correctly. A new fifth version is on its way...

Rogers and Kesner (2003) Aim: To investigate the role of acetylcholine on memory encoding and memory retrieval. Method: It was a laboratory experiment using rats. Rats were trained to learn a simple maze, but before the memories could be learned well-enough to be transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory, the rats were divided into groups and injected with drugs: Group 1 was injected with scopolamine, which is known to block the reception of acetylcholine by the post-synaptic neurons. This means that acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter expected to help form memories, cannot travel from one neuron to another. This was the no acetylcholine condition. Group 2 was injected with physostigmine, a drug that blocks cholinesterase, which is what cleans up the acetylcholine from receptor proteins on the post-synaptic neurons, returning the neurons to their resting potential, where no nerve impulse is being sent. Therefore the acetylcholine continued to act. This was the h...

Bouchard et al. (1990) Aim:  To investigate the relative influence of environment and genetic factors on human characteristics and behaviours, including intelligence. Method: A cross-cultural correlational study of more than 100 pairs of reared-apart twins and siblings whose data was compared with twins and siblings reared together. The participants comprised identical (monozygotic/MZ) twins and non-identical (dizygotic/DZ) twins, with an average age of 41 years. MZ twins are often used in genetic research because they have identical or almost identical genes. Each participant underwent over 50 hours of psychological testing and interviews. In twin research, the correlation found between each twin and therefore presumable between genetic inheritance and a particular behaviour is called the concordance rate. Results: The concordance rates for IQ were: MZ twins reared together: 86% (0.86) MZ twins reared apart: 76% (0.76) DZ twins reared together: 55% (0.55) Biologi...

5.1 Examine the concepts of normality and abnormality Defining normality Mental health model of normality (Jahoda, 1958) The model suggests criteria for what might constitute normal psychological health (in contrast to abnormal psychological health). Deviation from these criteria would mean that the health of an individual is “abnormal”: The absence of mental illness Realistic self-perception and contact with reality A strong sense of identity and positive self-esteem Autonomy and independence Ability to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships Ability to cope with stressful situations Capacity for personal growth and self-actualization Evaluation of the mental health model of normality The majority of people would be categorized as “abnormal” if the criteria were applied to them. It is relatively easy to establish criteria for what constitutes “physical health” but it is impossible to establish and agree on what constitutes “psychological healt...

Introduction Define localization of function Paragraph 1 Study: Maguire et al. (2000) Aim: The aim of this study was to examine possible changes in the brain of taxi drivers, and specifically focusing on the development of the spatial memory in the hippocampus. The researchers also wanted to find out if there was a correlation between the duration that the taxi drivers had been working and the size of the hippocampus. Method: The participants of this study were 16 males. They were all right-handed, physically healthy and between the ages 32 and 62 years. They were all licensed taxi drivers that had been working for at least 1,5 years. There was also one control group with 50 randomly selected participants. These were all also male, right-handed, physically healthy and in the same age range (32-62) as the original participants. The researchers had MRI scans of all the participants and the control group to compare them. In the MRI scans, there was grey matter that rep...