Essay Project By: Ben Beuerlein, Chas Kline, Eshwar Madishetti, and Rohit AtluriBiological Level of Analysis Outline principles that define the biological level of analysis: Principle 1 ~ Behaviour can be innate because itis genetically based Evolution theory Evolution ~ the passing of genes by those who best adapts to their environment. Survival ofthe fittest. Natural selection ~ the process where organism best adapts to their environment survive and produces offepring. The selection of traits which are beneficial to ‘survival and reproduction. Suggests that behaviour develops over time genetically due to natural selection. Selfish gene ~ we are all inherently “selfish” because we have an innate need to inerease the chance that our genes be propagated, Principle 2 ~ Animal research can provide insight into human behaviour. Animal research are sometimes the only feasible method of ‘executing @ research study, Animal research can be generalised to humans, to some extent, because we are similarBiological Level of Analysis Explain how principles that define the biological level of ‘analysis may be demonstrated in research: avamattu& Heal - Monk serotonin stu (Srotonin) Inestyat tow senso depraton ateck te ba ‘Stided agp of ons on 272 1otrpgmage b am ‘Te Mone were sotalowed bepeateator cit, ‘Areri8 tov, te Monts sted seehg altcuatons otaiceoe ava Reng teirprsence Fesearcier bak Dood ramps bef and afer teirpisrage ‘Te bid howazed bvelotzentorh he Movie beat Especely ue Hypotian ata FovBicores esumg ialtcnator ‘Sersoty depniton tigered He wate ofSemD4 ‘Seton ~msponsbe fr Seep, Artsal vel ad Enotont. ‘suigman = Learned Hla vanes Cog tuay(Oxpre Prove atLeaned Mepessuess cat kad depress. ‘Acoguas taped n au excosedamauien te tboruas ned uit ekctoses ‘Te expemerteruouisactiae te exctose otc nae ‘Te cog wowyimp orera ba ine oF be Toor ‘The expemmertrrabed te watsbuly eatltuas bo nh rte dog emp one ‘Then aterateu bb, te expermen er buered te wat agan rb be obersés ore excoreaana wie toe Rotoote ‘Te dog gave We Ugh waa eu stent, Sttatertiouag Hatt mporebe bmp actors, te cog gate epana et etget enotootta. en te wats were baer agah te dog of otatempto jump acme ‘The cog eantuatie & ncapabe ofp 2ooss. lean tatts a tepess ewe buerng fs settestem, tow m coobgkaluatiy, eo expenmentBiological Level of Analysis Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the biological level of analysis: Case studies are in-depth investigations on an individual subject. They allow researchers to take advantage of naturally occuring irregularties(ex.brain damage or drug use) by obtaining detailed information about the participants conaition. It produces primarily desciptive info. strenaths: tle harm done to participants, possible to study cases that are not ethically able to be done in experiments, limitations hard to maintain anonymity and hard to generalize. Experiments are the research method used to establish and a cause and effect relationship between two variables: the independent and the dependent. The independent variable is manipulated and the affect on the dependent variable is recorded. Strengths: -Can be used on humans or animals-Is the only method that can establish a cause and effect relationshif Researchers have control over variables, Limitations: -Ethical considerations may be limiting-Some animal experiments are hugely controversiatSample size may create problems with generalization-Harmful experiments can usually only have 2 small test group-Participant expectations: the participants may act in a way they believe they are expected to by validity: lab experiments have an artficial environment-Placebo effectCognitive Level of Analysis Outline principles that define the cognitive level of analysis: # Define the cognitive level of analysis ©The cognitive level of analysis (CLA)is based on howmental processes such as perception, attention, language, memory and thinking inthe brain processes information. © Itconcems the way we take in information ftom the outside world, how we make sense ofthat information and what use we make oft. + State the principles ofthe Cognitive Level of Analysis, ‘There are three underlying principles that detne the Cognitive Level of Analysis 41. Human beings are information processors and that mental representations guide behaviour 2. Mental processes can and shouki be studied scientticaly by developing theories and by using a variety of research methods 3. Social and cultural factors affect cognitive processes Purpose of he principles ‘© These principles are the main ideas that have driven focused research on specife areas of behaviour and cogntion © They also allowus to understand howbehaviour can be influenced by cognitive processes * Detne cogntion © Refersto a process that is based on one's mental representations ofthe world, such as images, © People likewise have diferent experiences and therefore each individual wll have diferent mCognitive Level of Analysis Explain howshe principles that define the cognitive level of analysis may be demonstrated in research, Pringiple 1—Humane are information processors, mental processes guide our behaviour Mult store model (Theorist: Atkinson and Shiffrin) The Mult-store model suggests that there ate three memory stores. Each memory store responsible for a diferent type of memory. Principle 2— The mind can be studied scientifically {MRI — Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology that measures brain activity by detecing associated changes in concentration of oxygen in the blood. Deoxygenated haemoglobin is more magnetic than Oxygenated haemoglobin, Requires the patiert to be stil in a small area for a long time. May spark claustrophobia People wth metal pats on thelr body cannot use a MRI machine because MRI has a strong magnetic fel Different ffom MRI which only provide a 3D image, MRI provides a 30 animated model ofthe brain. Principle 3— Cognitive processes are infuenced by social and cultural factors, ‘Schema theory (Theorist: Frederic Bartlett) Mental representation of knowledge crested overtime ftom previous experiences. Childhood experiences Repetitive exposure Reinforcement Helps us organize information, qudes our action and make predictions ofthe world Encoding > Storage > RetrievalCognitive Level of Analysis Discuss howand why particular research methods Cage Studies: are used atthe cognitive level of analysis. ‘Strengths of Case Studies Experiments: Unique studies that Would otherwise be ‘Strengths of Experiment Unethical to do Can be repeated, results tend to be Less lkelinood to break mote reliable Controlled environment, emoves Confounding variable Isolation of V and DV give a clear ‘cause and effec elatonship ethical guidelines Insight into certain areas of psychology that would otherwise be difficult to Can always be genetalised to a certain study extent Data easly measured Weaknesses of Case Studies /eaknesses of Experiment Lab environment, iowin ecological Lowpotential to valty generalise May break ethical qudetines Since it cannot be Lower generalising potential repeated, resuits might [Natural experiment] No control over be unreliable variables, unpredictable Possibly of Demand characteristicsSociocultural Level of Analysis Principles of the Sociocultural Level of Analysis Humans have a basic need “to belon: © Humans are likely to follow the "narm’ in order to fit in with others; this can be seen as conformity. © The social self: the individual identity and a group to identify oneself © Individuals are highly likely to assaciate themselves with "in groups” and “out groups" or, in other words, become part of groups that clasely match their values and distance themselves from ones that do not. © Culture influences behavior © The culture and society that an individual is part of plays a large role in the development and behavior of peaple © People's views of the world are resistant to change © Human beings are unlikely ta change their opinions or autloaks regardin the warld throughout their lifetimeSociocultural Level of Analysis Principles Demonstrated in Research ‘* Conformity (humans want to “belong’) © Asch (1951): an individual was asked, among several confederates judge the length of a line after all confederates made their decision, which usually chose the same, but incorrect choice. The individual being tested conformed about 33% of the time; people change their behaviour in accordance with others. © The social self ‘© Henri Tajfel (1979): Boys were divided into two groups based on their preference for Klee or Kandinsky's art work. The outgroup, was found to be consistently rated as less likeable, but not actually disliked. This supports the social identity theory. ‘© Culture influences behavior © Zimbardo et al. (1971): in this prison experiment, Zimbardo simulated a prison in which he randomly assigned participants to be either a guard or prisoner. After some time, the guards began to take power and act lke real prison guards and treat the prisoners with high levels of aggression; the prison environment strongly influenced the behavior of the participants. + People’s views of the world are resistant to change © Lee et al. (1977): The subjects were split into groups of hosts, audiences, and cor the game show, the audience was asked to rate the intelligence of the people were consistently ranked smarter, this demonstrates the fundamental attribSociocultural Level of Analysis Particular Research Methods Used Experiments © How researchers manipulate the independent variable (IV) and measure the dependent variable (DV). Researchers control as many extraneous variables as possible to provide controlled, laboratory, conditions. In these experiments, quantitative anc qualtative data is gathered, © Why. Its considerediperceived to be the most sciertiieresearch method and determines cause-effect relationship between two variables (V & DV). Patticipartinaturalitic observation ‘© How This @ research method in which a participant is directly observed for an extended period oftime. This can occur overtly, in hich the participants know, or covertly, in which the participants don't know. © Why. This is done because it allows forthe studying of human behavior in a naturalistic way, “itis asi really is" Interviews © How a specific incividual may be interviewed or asked questions regard a specie stuation in oder to gather data regarded some research subject. © Why. this can alow for direct data fom an individual regarding specific experiences of case studies ‘© How these are long term studies in which specifc people may be investigated over the couse of mi Tegarding social or cutural aspects oftheir Ives. © Why. This method has the potential to gather very specific and accurate data over along peri tivities,Sociocultural Level of Analysis Essay Questions Outline how one principle that defines the sociocultural level of analysis has been demonstrated in one example of research © Conformity (Solomon Asch) = Asch (1951): an individual was asked, among several confederates judge the length of a line after all confederates made their decision, which usually chose the same, but incorrect choice. The individual being tested conformed about 33% of the time; people change their behaviour in accordance with others. Outline social identity theory with reference to one relevant study. © Social self (Henri Tajfel) = Henri Tajfel (1979): Boys were divided into two groups based on their preference for Klee or Kandinsky’s art work. The outgroup, was found to be consistently rated as less likeable, but not actually disliked. This supports the social identity theoryAbnormal Level of Analysis To what extent do Biological, Cognitive, and Sociocultural factors influence abnormal Behavior ‘Abnormal psychology is based on the diagnosis of abnormal behavior. This is defined as behavior that is different than societal norms. The diagnosing process of psychological disorders or abnormal behavior derives certain symptoms from the three major psychological factors, Biological: when diagnosing certain mental illnesses such as depression and bipolar disorder the main factor to consider is a person's biology. Depression can be passed down through genetics and can also be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. The same can be said for bipolar disorder. A lot of the time these mental disorders are caused by abnormal brain chemistry. Cognitive: cognitive levels of analysis are also a popular factor to consider when diagnosing mental illness. A good example of this is in cases of major depressive disorder. The patient sees themselves as less important th defeating thoughts which makes them feel as though they are not important. They often look at deal than it actually is and in the sense putting a magnifying glass over them making minor due to the cognitive process of a person making their behavior abnormal.Abnormal Level of Analysis To what extent do Biological, Cognitive, and Sociocultural factors influence abnormal Behavior Continued Sociocultural: the socio-cultural level of analysis is based on the idea that society and culture influence behavior and the way itis treated. Itis a major factor when it comes to abnormal psychology. When it comes to the diagnosis process of ‘mental illness cuttural considerations are very important. There are certain culture-bound disorders such as the disorder shenjing shuairuo. This is an anxiety disorder in the Chinese DSM9. It accounts for over half of all mental ilness in China. There is also something called the reporting bias where there are certain cultures where it is more so okay to go to the doctor complaining of a mental illness than in others.Abnormal Level of Analysis Evaluate Psychological research relevant to the study abnormal psychology The study “Ideology and Insanity" (1974) conducted by Szasz showed us the danger of labeling people of mentally ill. It stated that there are certain stigma that go along with a lot of mental ness making it difficult for them to live a normal life and fit in with society Charney and Weismann (1988) found that around 15% of people develop depression at some point in their if, Joseph Schildkraut (1965) Showed us that chemical imbalances in the brain often lead to mental disorders. He found that low levels of Noradrenaline are directly connected to major depressive disorder.