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BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (psychosocial module)

SEMINAR 1
Introduction to behavior. Biological bases of behavior. Heredity and environmental
variables. Normal and abnormal behavior.
Definition : Behavior=actions or reactions of an organism, usually in relation to the
(physical or social) environment
Classification behavior: -conscious aware of
-unconscious instinctual, automatic
-external, directly observable like social interactions
-internal such as emotions, cognitions
-voluntary behavior generated by a decision
-involuntary without any intention
-common
- unusual
-acceptable
-unacceptable
-inborn, hereditary
-learned
Biological bases of behavior a complex interplay between biology and experience,
nature and nurture
(nature= a persons inherited characteristics determined by genetics)
nurture=a persons experience in the environment)
! a persons inherited traits may not become evident in behavior unless the
environment supports and encourages those traits
Nature versus nurture: -our abilities and behavior are determined by biological and
environmental variables
-both genes and experience are important factors affecting behavior
-the genetic traits provide the framework for behavior, within that
framework, experiences shape what individuals feel, think and do
The basics of genetics :
Genetics: the study of heredity- the biological transmission of traits and
characteristics from parents to offspring
-behavioral traits (temperament, intelligence) and disorders (depression,
schizophrenia) have a genetic basis

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- the best way to study the impact of biological mechanisms and the contributions
of the environment = family, twins and adoption studies
-significant psychological similarities between identical twins are probably due to
biological variables and significant psychological differences are probably
due to environmental variables
What impact might a persons have on the likelihood of his/her becoming
an alcoholic? (are some people more likely than others to become alcoholics)
-genetics, blood and brain chemistry, specific brain structures
predispose some people to alcoholism
-studies showed that high-risk individuals are: the culturally disadvantaged,
the poor, children of alcoholics (even if they are raised by
nonalcoholic adoptive parents)
-the inheritance is involved in alcoholism for both men and women
To what extent could a persons home environmental predispose him/her to
developing a biologically based disease such as schizophrenia?
-schizophrenia runs in family; the children of schizophrenic patients
are more likely to exhibit maladjustment and schizophrenic symptoms
(the children and siblings of schizophrenic patients are more likely to
exhibit maladjustment and schizophrenic symptoms)
(researchers are looking for a gene that might carry specific traits
e.g. chromosome 6 or 5)
-factors involved: -genetics (rate for schizophrenia in identical twins is 5
times than in fraternal twins)
-brain abnormalities (the brain ventricles are enlarged)
-chemicals in the bloodstream (dopamine)
-phenothiazines block receptor for dopamine
many symptoms (disturbed thought,
hallucinations) disappear
-amphetamines increase dopamine levels
aggravate schizophrenic disorders
-environmental factors: -social learning (growing up in an emotionally
fragmented environment and the presence
of marital conflict)
(a child in a family where parents argue, father is
alcoholic, parents show no affection)
-double bind (situations that offers two different
and inconsistent messages)
(No, you may not have this while smiling and
giving non-verbal assurances)
-some people, because of family environment, genetic history, brain
chemistry are more vulnerable than others
-vulnerability =a persons diminished ability to deal with demanding
life events
Conclusions:-a connection exists between genetic and schizophrenia, although
genetic factors alone cannot account for its development
-specific types of chemical substances in the brain are associated

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with schizophrenia
-environmental factors (pressure of marital conflict, double binds)
contribute to the development of schizophrenia; early childhood
relations may be especially important
Nervous system and behavior
-the brain plays a central role in controlling behavior
-study the brains of people who had tumors, brain diseases, trauma and try to correlate
the type of brain damage with the loss of specific abilities (see also the annex)
-hypothalamus: -affects many complex behaviors: eating, drinking, sexual activity
-involved in:- run responses and aggressive responses
(as self protection)
-emotions
-limbic system involved in emotions, memory, social behavior
-electric stimulation of limbic system in rats pleasurable emotions
-hippocampus role in learning, memory, emotional functions
-amygdala role in emotional behavior, aggressive behavior
-stimulation (in animals) attack responses
-surgical removal in human beings (as a radical way of
treating people extremely violent) decrease the
aggressive behavior
-is important in recognition of fear, learning, emotions
-basal ganglia control movements, posture (associated with Parkinsons disease)
-brain specialization
2 cerebral hemispheres
left specialized for the processing of speech, language
(Brocas aphasia=poor expressive speech
Wernickes aphasia=poor verbal comprehension)
-right spatial tasks, musical, artistic, emotions, memories
-split brain patients with uncontrollable life-threatening epilepsy
(operation to sever the corpus callosum)
-after surgery they are unable to use the speech and language
capabilities located in the left hemisphere to describe
activities carried out by the right one (Sperry experiment)
-plasticity and change
-basic brain organization is established well before birth and
does not change after birth
-but the brain is still malleable (teachable) during the formative years ;
this ability to change = plasticity
-within limits, the nervous system can be modified and fine-tuned by
experience acquired over many years and the brain can be trained to
relearn and simulate previous learning that may be have been lost
through an accident or other brain trauma
-changes in brain occur not only in young organisms, but in aging ones as well

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Normal and abnormal behavior
-Abnormal behavior- is characterized as:
1.atypical many behaviors are unusual
-e.g. earpiercing among teenage boys is not considered abnormal because
in some countries is fairly common today
-washing ones hands every few minutes during the day until they are raw
is abnormal
2.socially unacceptable what is normal/ abnormal vary according to socio-cultural values
-what is acceptable in one culture may be labeled unacceptable in another
3.distressing a persons abnormal behavior often causes distress to the person or those
around the person
-feelings of anxiety or distress are normal in many situations, prolonged anxiety/
distress may result from abnormal behavior
4.maladaptative abnormal behavior is usually maladaptative or self-defeating to the
person exhibiting it
-drug abuse is harmful, often leads to more misery, prevents people from
making positive changes in their lives
5.the result of distorted cognitions (thoughts)
abnormal behavior is often the result of distorted cognitions (thoughts)
-a woman suffering from major depression may believe that she is worthless,
stupid, unlovable
In recent years psychologists have begun to describe behaviors in terms of maladjustment
rather than abnormality (the maladaptive behavior can, with treatment, be adjusted and become
adaptive )
Criteria for normality: -flexibility (ability to adapt to the living context)
-self regulation (to learn from own experiences and from others
experiences)
-adequate to the social norm (we dont live alone)
Personality Change due to a General Medical Condition
Personality change due to a general medical condition (see Table 10.5-13)
deserves some discussion here. ICD-10 includes the category personality and
behavioral disorders due to brain disease, damage, and dysfunction, which
includes organic personality disorder (see Table 10.5-18), postencephalitic
syndrome, and postconcussional syndrome. Personality change due to a
general medical condition is characterized by a marked change in personality
style and traits from a previous level of functioning. Patients must show
evidence of a causative organic factor antedating the onset of the personality
change.
Table 27-16 Medical Conditions Associated with
Personality Change
Head trauma
Cerebrovascular diseases
Cerebral tumors
Epilepsy (particularly, complex partial
epilepsy)

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Huntington's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Endocrine disorders
Heavy metal poisoning (manganese,
mercury)
Neurosyphilis
Acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS)
Etiology
Structural damage to the brain is usually the cause of the personality change,
and head trauma is probably the most common cause. Cerebral neoplasms
and vascular accidents, particularly of the temporal and frontal lobes, are
also common causes. The conditions most often associated with personality
change are listed in Table 27-16.
Diagnosis and Clinical Features
A change in personality from previous patterns of behavior or an
exacerbation of previous personality characteristics is notable. Impaired
control of the expression of emotions and impulses is a cardinal
feature. Emotions are characteristically labile and shallow, although
euphoria or apathy may be prominent. The euphoria may mimic
hypomania, but true elation is absent, and patients may admit to not really
feeling happy. There is a hollow and silly ring to their excitement and

frontal lobes

facile jocularity, particularly when the

are
involved. Also associated with damage to the frontal lobes, the so-called
frontal lobe syndrome, is prominent indifference and apathy,
characterized by a lack of concern for events in the immediate
environment. Temper outbursts, which can occur with little or no
provocation, especially after alcohol ingestion, can result in violent
behavior. The expression of impulses may be manifested by inappropriate
jokes, a coarse manner, improper sexual advances, and antisocial conduct
resulting in conflicts with the law, such as assaults on others, sexual
misdemeanors, and shoplifting. Foresight and the ability to anticipate the
social or legal consequences of actions are typically diminished.
Persons with temporal lobe epilepsy characteristically show
humorlessness, hypergraphia, hyperreligiosity, and marked aggressiveness
during seizures.
Persons with personality change due to a general medical condition have a
clear sensorium. Mild disorders of cognitive function often coexist, but do not
amount to intellectual deterioration. Patients may be inattentive, which may
account for disorders of recent memory. With some prodding, however,
patients are likely to recall what they claim to have forgotten. The diagnosis
should be suspected in patients who show marked changes in
behavior or personality involving emotional lability and impaired
impulse control, who have no history of mental disorder, and whose
personality changes occur abruptly or over a relatively brief time.