PSYB32H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Eye Color, Little Albert Experiment, Systematic Desensitization
28 May 2018
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CHAPTER 2
2.1 - The Role of Paradigms
• we consider current paradigms of abnormal behaviour and treatment.
• A paradigm = a set of basic assumptions—a general perspective that defines how to
conceptualize and study a subject, how to gather and interpret relevant data, even how
to think about a particular subject.
• 4 major types of paradigms: biological, cognitive-behavioural, psychoanalytic, and
humanistic.
2.2 - The Biological Paradigm
• Biological paradigm = A broad theoretical view that holds that mental disorders are
caused by some aberrant somatic process or defect.
• mental disorders are caused by aberrant biological processes - continuation of the
somatogenic hypothesis
• This paradigm has often been referred to as the medical model or disease model = A
conceptual model that maintains that dysfunction stems from internal biological
processes and factors within the individual.
• biological factors relevant to psychopathology ex. Heredity probably predisposes a
person to have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia
• Genes = An ultramicroscopic area of the chromosome. The gene is the smallest physical
unit of the DNA molecule that carries a piece of hereditary information.
• Behaviour genetics = The study of individual differences in behaviour that are
attributable to differences in genetic make up.
o Genotype = An individual’s unobservable, genetic constitution; the totality of
genes possessed by an individual - fixed at birth, but not static entity
o Phenotype = The totality of observable characteristics of a person - changes over
time and is viewed as the product of an interaction between the genotype and the
environment
o clinical syndromes are disorders of the phenotype, not of the genotype
▪ it is not correct to speak of the direct inheritance of schizophrenia or
anxiety disorders; at most, only the genotypes for these disorders can be
inherited
o The study of behaviour genetics has relied on 4 methods to uncover whether a
predisposition for psychopathology is inherited: comparison of members of a
family, comparison of pairs of twins, the investigation of adoptees, and linkage
analysis
▪ Family method
• Research strategy in behaviour genetics in which the frequency of
a trait or of abnormal behaviour is determined in relatives who
have varying percentages of shared genetic background.
• can be used to study a genetic predisposition among members of
a family because the average number of genes shared by two
blood relatives is known.
▪ Twin method
• Research strategy in behaviour genetics in which concordance
rates of monozygotic and dizygotic twins are compared.
• Monozygotic (MZ) twins = Genetically identical siblings who have
developed from a single fertilized egg. Also called “identical twins.”
• Dizygotic (DZ) twins = Birth partners who have developed from
separate fertilized eggs and who are only 50% alike genetically,
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no more so than siblings born from different pregnancies. Also
called “fraternal twins.”
• To the extent that a predisposition for a mental disorder can be
inherited, concordance = similarity in psychiatric diagnosis or in
other traits within a pair of twins. for the disorder should be greater
in genetically identical MZ pairs than in DZ pairs
• it is not always the case that identical twins are identical
• An allele is any one of several DNA codings that occupy the same
position or location on a chromosome. They are studied to try to
specify the particular gene or genes involved in a disorder.
▪ Adoptees method
• Research method that studies children who were adopted and
reared completely apart from their disordered parents, thereby
eliminating the influence of being raised by disordered parents.
▪ Linkage analysis
• A technique in genetic research whereby occurrence of a disorder
in a family is evaluated alongside a known genetic marker.
• Genetic marker = study the inheritance pattern of characteristics
whose genetics are fully understood
• Ex. Eye colour is known to be controlled by a gene in a specific
location on a specific chromosome. If the occurrence of a form of
psychopathology among relatives goes along with the occurrence
of another characteristic whose genetics are known (the genetic
marker), it is concluded that the gene predisposing individuals to
the psychopathology is on the same chromosome and in a similar
location on that chromosome (i.e., it is linked) as the gene
controlling the other characteristic.
• gene–environment interactions - is the notion that a disorder or related symptoms are
the joint product of a genetic vulnerability and specific environmental experiences or
conditions
• Genetic differences in temperament
o Temperament = An individual difference variable that reflects variability in
tendencies such as emotionality and activity level that are believed to reflect, in
part, biologically inherited differences.
o found 3 types or categories:
▪ Resilient type = The most adaptive of three personality types found
among children. Resilient children tend to become resilient adults who are
able to bounce back from adversity.
▪ Over Controlling type = One of three personality types found among
children. It involves a sense of inhibition and anxiety that confers
significant risk for subsequent life distress.
▪ Under Controlling type = One of three personality types found among
children. Undercontrolled children are often impulsive and lack self-
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Document Summary
Heredity probably predisposes a person to have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia: genes = an ultramicroscopic area of the chromosome. Also called identical twins. : dizygotic (dz) twins = birth partners who have developed from separate fertilized eggs and who are only 50% alike genetically, no more so than siblings born from different pregnancies. Eye colour is known to be controlled by a gene in a specific location on a specific chromosome. Resilient children tend to become resilient adults who are able to bounce back from adversity: over controlling type = one of three personality types found among children. It involves a sense of inhibition and anxiety that confers significant risk for subsequent life distress: under controlling type = one of three personality types found among children. Not all of the released neurotransmitter has found its way to postsynaptic receptors.
