The Biological Approach

The Brain & Behaviour

Overview: Techniques to Study the Brain

Techniques Used to Study the Brain

Post Mortem Examinations

Two Key Studies using Post-Mortem Analysis: The case of HM (Corkin 1997) & The Case of Tan (Broca 1861)

MRI Brain Scan

Two Key Studies using MRI: Maguire (2000) & Luby et al. (2013)

FMRI & PET Scans

Two Key Studies using fMRI & PET Scans: Fisher et al. (2003) & Raine et al. (1997)

Localisation of Function

Localisation of Brain Function

Two Key Studies of Localisation of Brain Function: Maguire (2000) & HM (Corkin 1997)

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Two Key Studies of Neuroplasticity: Maguire (2000) & Luby (2013)

Neural Networks & Neural Pruning

Two Key Studies of Neural Networks & Neural Pruning: Maguire (2000) & Draganski et al. (2004)

Neurotransmitters & Their Effect on Behaviour

Neurotransmitters & Their Effect on Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Neurotransmitters: Fisher et al. (2003) & Brunner et al. (1993)

Neurotransmitters: Agonists & Antagonists

Two Key Studies of Agonists & Antagonists: Crockett et al. (2010) & Romach et al. (1999)

Excitatory & Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Two Key Studies of Excitatory & Inhibitory Synapses: Streeter et al. (2010) & Kraal et al. (2020)

Key Studies on The Brain & Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of the Brain & Behaviour

Hormones & Pheromones

What are Hormones?

Hormones: What is Testosterone?

Hormones: What is Oxytocin?

What are Pheromones?

Two Key Studies of Hormones & Their Effect on Behaviour: Morhenn et al. (2008) & Zak et al. (2009)

Two Key Studies of Pheromones & Their Effect on Behaviour: Zhou et al. (2014) & Hare et al. (2017)

Genetics & Behaviour

Genes & Behaviour: One gene & its Effect on Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Genes & Behaviour: Caspi et al. (2003) & Brunner et al. (1993)

Genetic Similarity

Genetic Similarity as an Explanation for Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Genetic Similarity: McGuffin (1996) & Brunner et al. (1993)

Evolutionary Explanations

Evolutionary Explanations of Human behaviour

Two Key Studies of Evolutionary Explanations for Behaviour: Buss et al. (1989) & Clarke & Hatfield (1989)

Key Studies on Genetics & Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of Genetics & Behaviour

The Cognitive Approach

Cognitive Processing

What is the Multi-Store Model of Memory

Models of Memory

The Working Memory Model

Two Key Studies on Models of Memory: Glanzer & Cunitz (1966) & Baddeley et al. (1973)

Cognitive Schema

Schema Theory

Two Key Studies on Schema Theory: Bartlett (1932) & Riso et al. (2006)

Thinking & Decision Making

Rational Thinking & Intuitive Thinking: The Dual Process Model

Two Key Studies on Thinking & Decision-Making: Alter et al. (2007) & Lerner & Ma-Kellams (2016)

Key Studies on Cognitive Processing

Summary Table: Key Studies of Cognitive Processing

Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Reconstructive Memory: The Effect of Schema on Memory

Reconstructive Memory: Eye Witness Testimony

Two Key Studies of Reconstructive Memory: Bartlett (1932) & Loftus & Palmer (1974)

Cognitive Biases: Illusory Correlation

Cognitive Biases: Just World Hypothesis

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Biases: Hamilton & Gifford (1976) & Piliavin et al. (1969)

Key Studies of Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Summary Table: Key Studies of Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Emotion & Cognition

Flashbulb Memory: The Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Two Key Studies of the Effect of Emotion on Cognition: Brown & Kulik (1977) & Talarico & Rubin (2003)

Key Studies of Reliability of the Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Summary Table: Key Studies of Emotion & Cognition

The Sociocultural Approach

The Individual & the Group

Social Identity Theory

Two Key Studies of Social Identity Theory: Tajfel (1972) & Howarth (2002)

Social Cognitive Theory

Two Key Studies of Social Cognitive Theory: Bandura (1961) & Dijkstra & DeVries (2001)

Stereotypes: Formation of Stereotypes

Stereotypes: Effects of Stereotyping

Two Key Studies of Stereotypes : Hamilton & Gifford (1976) & Spencer et al. (1999)

Key Studies of The Individual & The Group

Summary Table: Key Studies of The Individual & The Group

Cultural Origins of Behaviour & Cognition

Overview: What is Culture?

Conformity: How Does Culture Influence Behaviour?

Two Key Studies of Culture & its Influence on Behaviour: Smith & Bond (1996) & Levine & Norenzayan (1999)

Hofstede Cultural Dimensions

Two Key Studies of Cultural Dimensions: Levine & Norenzayan (1999) & Levine et al. (2001)

Key Studies of Cultural Origins of Behaviour & Cognition

Summary Table: Key Studies of Cultural Origins of Behaviour & Cognition

Cultural Influences on Individual Behaviour

Enculturation

Acculturation

Acculturative Stress & Berry's Model

Two Key Studies of Enculturation & Acculturation: Basu et al. (2017) & Inman et al. (2007)

Key Studies of Cultural Influences on Individual Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of Cultural Origins of Cultural Influences on Individual Behaviour

Abnormal Psychology

Factors Influencing Diagnosis: Normality vs Abnormality

Defining 'Normal' vs 'Abnormal' Behaviour

Factors Which influence the Diagnosis of Abnormal Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Normality vs Abnormality

Factors Influencing Diagnosis: Classification Systems

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders & International Classification of Diseases

Two Key Studies of Classification Systems

Factors Influencing Diagnosis: The Role of Clinical Biases in Diagnosis

What are Clinical Biases?

Two Key Studies of Clinical Biases

Factors Influencing Diagnosis: Validity & Reliability of Diagnosis

How are Validity & Reliability Relevant to Diagnosis?

Two Key Studies of Validity & Reliability of Diagnosis: Rosenhan et al. (1973); Nicholls et a. (2000)

Summary Table: Key Studies of Factors Influencing Diagnosis

Etiology of Abnormal Psychology: Explanations for Disorders

What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

Biological Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Two Key Studies of Biological Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Cognitive Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Sociocultural Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Two Key Studies of Sociocultural Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Summary Table: Key Studies of Explanations for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

What are the Characteristics of Phobias?

A Biological Explanation of Phobias

Two Key Studies of a Biological Explanation of Phobias

Generalised Anxiety Disorder: A Cognitive Explanation of Phobias

Two Key Studies of a Cognitive Explanation of Phobias

The Two-Process Model: A Sociocultural Explanation of Phobias

Two Key Studies of Sociocultural Explanations of Phobias

Etiology of Abnormal Psychology: Prevalence Rates & Disorders

Prevalence Rates & Disorders

Two Key Studies of Prevalence Rates

Summary Table: Key Studies of Etiology of Disorders

Treatment of Disorders: Biological Treatments of MDD & Phobias

Biological Treatments of Major Depressive Disorder & Phobias

Two Key Studies of Biol Treatments of Major Depressive Disorder & Phobias

Treatment of Disorders: Psychological Treatments of MDD & Phobias

Psychological Treatments of MDD & Phobias

Two Key Studies of Psych Treatms of MDD & Phobias

Treatment of Disorders: The Role of Culture in Treatment

The Role of Culture in Treatment of MDD & Phobias

Two Key Studies of the Role of Culture in Treatment of Disorders

Treatment of Disorders: Summary of Treatments

Summary Table: Key Studies of Treatment of Disorders

Assessing the Effectiveness of Treatments

Exam Tips & Guidance

How to Answer an Exam Question on Abnormal Psychology

Model Exam Response: Abnormal Psychology