Physiological psychology focuses on the relationship between our genetic make-up, behaviour and experiences. It offers limited explanations as to why and where mental disorders originate from. The booklet puts more emphasis on our brain being the cause of mental disorder.
Any abnormalities with the brain, such as the cause of a mental disorder could be detected using 'Brain Scanning Techniques.' In medicine there are a variety of different Brain Scanning Techniques, however the Physiological Approach only uses three which are:
Electroencephalograph (EEG) : Used to detect the five different wave forms involved in human sleep. Because psychologists know the sleep cycle, and what happens at each of the four stages and the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage, it is possible to see any abnormalities in a person's sleep, caused by factors such as stress.
CAT Scans: This method uses X-Rays from different angles in order to get one 3D image of the patients brain. This allows us to compare the functioning of a normal brain compared with that of an abnormal brain, but this mainly detects physical abnormality. For example, a patient may become aggressive for no apparent reason, until a CAT scan locates a cancer on a particular part of the brain which causes aggression.
PET Scans: Because this involves the injection of a radioactive 'carrier' substance, this allows an analyst to see which part of the brain is functioning at a specific time, again to detect any abnormalities.
Any abnormalities with the brain, such as the cause of a mental disorder could be detected using 'Brain Scanning Techniques.' In medicine there are a variety of different Brain Scanning Techniques, however the Physiological Approach only uses three which are:
Electroencephalograph (EEG) : Used to detect the five different wave forms involved in human sleep. Because psychologists know the sleep cycle, and what happens at each of the four stages and the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage, it is possible to see any abnormalities in a person's sleep, caused by factors such as stress.
CAT Scans: This method uses X-Rays from different angles in order to get one 3D image of the patients brain. This allows us to compare the functioning of a normal brain compared with that of an abnormal brain, but this mainly detects physical abnormality. For example, a patient may become aggressive for no apparent reason, until a CAT scan locates a cancer on a particular part of the brain which causes aggression.
PET Scans: Because this involves the injection of a radioactive 'carrier' substance, this allows an analyst to see which part of the brain is functioning at a specific time, again to detect any abnormalities.
Another method from this approach is 'Lesion Studies.' Lesion Studies involve disabling a bit of the brain in order to see what effect this has on behaviour. This allows us to find out what bit of the brain is responsible for certain behaviours. Usually this means that the bit of brain is surgically removed or is damaged by an accident or illness.
An example of a human lesion study is that of Clive Wearing. Clive had damaged both sides of his hippocampus due to a viral infection. This led to his being unable to form new long term memories. Suggesting that the hippocampus is the area that turns STM to LTM.
Lesion Studies have also been known to cure a patient of depression. This is because they disable the part of the brain which causes human emotion, this is so that the patient no longer feels depressed. However, it also means that the patient will also never be happy suggesting that they are not completely cured.
One of the theories that can be used to explain mental disorders is the Restoration Theory. This theory states that we as humans need to sleep in order to restore our body and recover from the physical activities of the day. In stages 1-3 of the sleep cycle our body is being restored, and during stage 4 and REM of the cycle our brain is being restored. Oswald suggests that any deprivation of sleep would lead to many factors ...
- A loss of physical functioning because our energy levels have not been restored so we will not be able to do much.
- A loss of cognitive and psychological functioning because our brain hasn't been restored so we will be mentally impaired due to this.
- Ultimately extreme deprivation will result in death.
Another explanation in this booklet to the cause of mental disorders is located in the Key Application section which discusses the effects that shift work and jet lag has on our 'Body Clock.'
When flying to a different country as a passenger, aircrew or pilot on a plane, not only does it mean that your flying to a new place, it means you're flying to a new time-zone as well. Zeitgebers (environmental factors) such as light levels then suggest a different rhythm to your body clock which induces stress, disorientation, sickness, headaches and waking up at night which can often lead to depression.
Shiftwork causes your body to constantly battle Zeitgebers and Endogenous (internal) factors in order to stay awake, which can cause harmful effects of the body. Studies on shiftwork have shown that it can leader to poorer mental health and for a parent who works these can lead to them being hostile and ineffective as parents resulting in an unstable family life.
Shiftwork causes your body to constantly battle Zeitgebers and Endogenous (internal) factors in order to stay awake, which can cause harmful effects of the body. Studies on shiftwork have shown that it can leader to poorer mental health and for a parent who works these can lead to them being hostile and ineffective as parents resulting in an unstable family life.
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