1. BIOLOGICAL COGNITIVE SOCIOCULTURAL Levels of Analysis (LoA)

2. Biological LoA Focuses on physiology and genetics Gender differences via genetic makeup  XY and XX chromosomes Gender differences from the impact of hormones  testosterone and estrogen

3. Cognitive LoA Focuses on mental processes  Memory  Thinking  Perception  Attention Gender differences via gender schema theory Social cognition Gender stereotypes

4. Sociocultural LoA Focuses on how environment and culture impact behavior and thinking Impact of cultural definitions and roles for our mental representations of each gender Gender differences explained through social learning theory  Watching individuals of the same sex for behavior cues

5. Biological LoA Biology can affect cognition and cognition can affect biology…relationship is bidirectional Physiological factors that impact behavior:  Brain processes  Neurotransmitters  Hormones  Genes Physiology does not work alone since environmental stimuli influence our behavior  Stressful experiences  Attractive person passing by  Brain damage caused by trauma

6. Goal of IB Psychology Taking a holistic approach to human behavior Interactionist Approach: Both sides of nature (biology) vs. nurture (environment) argument.

7. Principles of Human Behavior (Biological LoA) 1. Behavior can be innate since it is genetically based Evolution..key role in behavior 2. Animal research can provide insight to human behavior Much research done with animals 3. Biological correlates of behavior Links between specific biological factors and specific behaviors

8. Reductionist Approach Micro-level research; breaking down complex human behavior into simple parts. Criticized for being over simplistic but allows us to gain detailed knowledge of human behavior Important because it allows understanding of several factors that influence one behavior

9. Impact of Neurotransmitters on Behavior Influences mood, memory, sexual arousal, and mental illness Acetylcholine  Muscle contraction, helps with development of memory in hippocampus Dopamine  Voluntary movement, learning, feelings of pleasure Norepinephrine (noradrenalin)  Arousal, alertness, stimulation of sympathetic nervous system Serotonin  Sleep, arousal levels, emotion

10. Affect of Serotonin on Behavior Tokyo University (Kasamatsu and Hirai, 1999) Aim: How sensory deprivation affects the brain Buddhist monks deprived of food, water, no communication, and exposure to cold weather 48 hours, hallucinations Blood samples before and right after hallucinations (serotonin levels increased which activated the frontal cortex and hypothalamus) Conclusion: Sensory deprivation released serotonin which altered monks experience.

11. Drugs Stimulate the production of neurotransmitters Block receptor sites if too much is produced

12. Technology and the Brain & Behavior Technology gives researchers the ability to monitor and discover the “map” of the brain’s activity Previously, case studies were used; usually situations that would be unethical to reproduce in the lab.  Case studies of brain damaged patients carried out over a long period of time (longitudinally)  Phineas Gage, Paul Broca, Carl Wernicke  Allows for observation of short-term and long- term effects

13. Localization of Brain Function The idea that specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions When a behavior is localized in the brain, it is possible to trace the origin of the behavior to a specific part of the brain. Does not explain ALL human behavior but is an major step forward in brain research

14. Robert Heath (1950s) James Old (1950s) Electrically stimulated parts o f the brain in depressed patients=experienced pleasure One patient (B-19) electrically stimulated himself 1,500 times in 3 hours Experienced euphoria and elation and was eventually disconnected against his will Rats would receive electrical stimulation to the nucleus accumbens when a lever was pressed Crossed over electrified grids and preferred pleasure lever over food and water Research on the role of the nucleus accumbens (pleasure center)

15. Brain Functions and Ethical Considerations Electrical stimulation of the nucleus accumbens is based mainly on dopamine (desire) and serotonin (satiety and inhibition) Via animal studies, all drugs increase the production of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and reduce serotonin.  Cocaine and nicotine Frequent use of drugs increase the amount of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.  Why drug addicts have an obsessive drive to seek more drugs even though they know its not good for them

16. Technology vs. Invasive Techniques