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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- 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

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 wellNormal 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 traumaCerebrovascular diseasesCerebral tumorsEpilepsy (particularly, complex partial epilepsy)Huntington's diseaseMultiple sclerosisEndocrine disordersHeavy metal poisoning (manganese, mercury)NeurosyphilisAcquired 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 facile jocularity, particularly when the frontal lobes 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.