The Biological Approach

The Brain & Behaviour

Overview: Techniques to Study the Brain

Techniques Used to Study the Brain

Post Mortem Examinations

Two Key Studies using Post-Mortem Analysis: The case of HM (Corkin 1997) & The Case of Tan (Broca 1861)

MRI Brain Scan

Two Key Studies using MRI: Maguire (2000) & Luby et al. (2013)

FMRI & PET Scans

Two Key Studies using fMRI & PET Scans: Fisher et al. (2003) & Raine et al. (1997)

Localisation of Function

Localisation of Brain Function

Two Key Studies of Localisation of Brain Function: Maguire (2000) & HM (Corkin 1997)

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Two Key Studies of Neuroplasticity: Maguire (2000) & Luby (2013)

Neural Networks & Neural Pruning

Two Key Studies of Neural Networks & Neural Pruning: Maguire (2000) & Draganski et al. (2004)

Neurotransmitters & Their Effect on Behaviour

Neurotransmitters & Their Effect on Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Neurotransmitters: Fisher et al. (2003) & Brunner et al. (1993)

Neurotransmitters: Agonists & Antagonists

Two Key Studies of Agonists & Antagonists: Crockett et al. (2010) & Romach et al. (1999)

Excitatory & Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Two Key Studies of Excitatory & Inhibitory Synapses: Streeter et al. (2010) & Kraal et al. (2020)

Key Studies on The Brain & Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of the Brain & Behaviour

Hormones & Pheromones

What are Hormones?

Hormones: What is Testosterone?

Hormones: What is Oxytocin?

What are Pheromones?

Two Key Studies of Hormones & Their Effect on Behaviour: Morhenn et al. (2008) & Zak et al. (2009)

Two Key Studies of Pheromones & Their Effect on Behaviour: Zhou et al. (2014) & Hare et al. (2017)

Summary Table: Key Studies of Hormones & Pheromones

Genetics & Behaviour

Genes & Behaviour: One gene & its Effect on Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Genes & Behaviour: Caspi et al. (2003) & Brunner et al. (1993)

Genetic Similarity

Genetic Similarity as an Explanation for Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Genetic Similarity: McGuffin (1996) & Brunner et al. (1993)

Evolutionary Explanations

Evolutionary Explanations of Human behaviour

Two Key Studies of Evolutionary Explanations for Behaviour: Buss et al. (1989) & Clarke & Hatfield (1989)

Key Studies on Genetics & Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of Genetics & Behaviour

The Cognitive Approach

Cognitive Processing

What is the Multi-Store Model of Memory

Models of Memory

The Working Memory Model

Two Key Studies on Models of Memory: Glanzer & Cunitz (1966) & Baddeley et al. (1973)

Cognitive Schema

Schema Theory

Two Key Studies on Schema Theory: Bartlett (1932) & Riso et al. (2006)

Thinking & Decision Making

Rational Thinking & Intuitive Thinking: The Dual Process Model

Two Key Studies on Thinking & Decision-Making: Alter et al. (2007) & Lerner & Ma-Kellams (2016)

Key Studies on Cognitive Processing

Summary Table: Key Studies of Cognitive Processing

Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Reconstructive Memory: The Effect of Schema on Memory

Reconstructive Memory: Eye Witness Testimony

Two Key Studies of Reconstructive Memory: Bartlett (1932) & Loftus & Palmer (1974)

Cognitive Biases: Illusory Correlation

Cognitive Biases: Just World Hypothesis

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Biases: Hamilton & Gifford (1976) & Piliavin et al. (1969)

Key Studies of Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Summary Table: Key Studies of Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Emotion & Cognition

Flashbulb Memory: The Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Two Key Studies of the Effect of Emotion on Cognition: Brown & Kulik (1977) & Talarico & Rubin (2003)

Key Studies of Reliability of the Effect of Emotion on Cognition

Summary Table: Key Studies of Emotion & Cognition

The Sociocultural Approach

The Individual & the Group

Social Identity Theory

Two Key Studies of Social Identity Theory: Tajfel (1972) & Howarth (2002)

Social Cognitive Theory

Two Key Studies of Social Cognitive Theory: Bandura (1961) & Dijkstra & DeVries (2001)

Stereotypes: Formation of Stereotypes

Stereotypes: Effects of Stereotyping

Two Key Studies of Stereotypes : Hamilton & Gifford (1976) & Spencer et al. (1999)

Key Studies of The Individual & The Group

Summary Table: Key Studies of The Individual & The Group

Cultural Origins of Behaviour & Cognition

Overview: What is Culture?

Conformity: How Does Culture Influence Behaviour?

Two Key Studies of Culture & its Influence on Behaviour: Smith & Bond (1996) & Levine & Norenzayan (1999)

Hofstede Cultural Dimensions

Two Key Studies of Cultural Dimensions: Levine & Norenzayan (1999) & Smith & Bond (1996)

Key Studies of Cultural Origins of Behaviour & Cognition

Summary Table: Key Studies of Cultural Origins of Behaviour & Cognition

Cultural Influences on Individual Behaviour

Enculturation

Acculturation

Acculturative Stress & Berry's Model

Two Key Studies of Enculturation & Acculturation: Basu et al. (2017) & Inman et al. (2007)

Key Studies of Cultural Influences on Individual Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of Cultural Influences on Individual Behaviour

Abnormal Psychology

Factors Influencing Diagnosis

Defining 'Normal' vs 'Abnormal' Behaviour

Factors Which influence the Diagnosis of Abnormal Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Normality vs Abnormality

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders & International Classification of Diseases

Two Key Studies of Classification Systems

What are Clinical Biases?

Two Key Studies of Clinical Biases

How are Validity & Reliability Relevant to Diagnosis?

Two Key Studies of Validity & Reliability of Diagnosis: Rosenhan et al. (1973); Nicholls et a. (2000)

Summary Table: Key Studies of Factors Influencing Diagnosis

Etiology of Abnormal Behaviour: Explanations for Disorder(s)

What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

Biological Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Two Key Studies of Biological Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Cognitive Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Sociocultural Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Two Key Studies of Sociocultural Explanations of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Summary Table: Key Studies of Explanations for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

What are the Characteristics of Phobias?

A Biological Explanation of Phobias

Two Key Studies of a Biological Explanation of Phobias

Generalised Anxiety Disorder: A Cognitive Explanation of Phobias

Two Key Studies of a Cognitive Explanation of Phobias

The Two-Process Model: A Sociocultural Explanation of Phobias

Two Key Studies of Sociocultural Explanations of Phobias

Etiology of Abnormal Psychology: Prevalence Rates & Disorders

Prevalence Rates & Disorders

Two Key Studies of Prevalence Rates

Summary Table: Key Studies of Etiology of Disorders

Treatment of Disorders

Biological Treatments of Major Depressive Disorder & Phobias

Two Key Studies of Biol Treatments of Major Depressive Disorder & Phobias

Psychological Treatments of MDD & Phobias

Two Key Studies of Psych Treatments of MDD & Phobias

The Role of Culture in Treatment of MDD & Phobias

Two Key Studies of the Role of Culture in Treatment of Disorders

Summary Table: Key Studies of Treatment of Disorders

Summary of the Effectiveness of Biological & Psychological Treatments of MDD & Phobias

Exam Tips & Guidance

How to Answer an Exam Question on Abnormal Psychology

Model Exam Response: Abnormal Psychology

Health Psychology

Determinants of Health

The Biopsychosocial Model

Two Key Studies of the Biopsychosocial Model

Dispositional Factors & Health

The Health Belief Model

Two Key Studies of Dispositional Factors & Health Beliefs

Risk Factors & Protective Factors & Health

Two Key Studies of Risk Factors & Protective Factors

Summary Table: Key Studies of Determinants of Health

Health Problems

Biological Explanations of Stress

Two Key Studies of Biological Explanations of Stress

Cognitive Explanations of Stress

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Explanations of Stress

Sociocultural Explanations of Stress

Two Key Studies of Sociocultural Explanations of Stress

Prevalence Rates of Smoking

Two Key Studies of Prevalence Rates of Smoking

Summary Table: Key Studies of Health Problems

Promoting Health

Health Promotion

Two Key Studies of Health Promotion

Effectiveness of Health Promotion Programmes

Two Key Studies of the Effectiveness of Health Promotion Programmes

Summary Table: Key Studies of Promoting Health

How to Answer the IB Health Psychology Question

Exam Tips & Guidance

Model Answer Example

Human Relationships

Formation of Personal Relationships

Formation of Personal Relationships: Biological Theories of Attraction

Two Key Studies of Biological Theories of Attraction

Formation of Personal Relationships: Cognitive Theories of Attraction

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Theories of Attraction

Formation of Personal Relationships: Sociocultural Theories of Attraction

Three Key Studies of Sociocultural Theories of Attraction

Personal Relationships: Role of Communication

Communication in Personal Relationships

Two Key Studies of Communication in Personal Relationships

Gender & Communicatioon

Two Key Studies of Gender & Communication

The Role of Culture in Communication

Two Key Studies of the Role of Culture in Communication

Personal Relationships: Explanations for Why Relationships Change or End

Explanations for why Relationships Change or End

Two Key Studies of Explanations for why Relationships Change or End

Summary Table: Key Studies of Personal Relationships

Group Dynamics

Cooperation & Competition in Group Dynamics

Two Key Studies of Cooperation & Competition

Prejudice & Discrimination: Social Identity Theory

Two Key Studies of Prejudice & Discrimination

Origins of Conflict & Conflict Resolution: The Contact Hypothesis

Two Key Studies of Origins of Conflict & Conflict Resolution

Summary Table: Key Studies of Group Dynamics

Social Responsibility: Bystanderism & Prosocial Behaviour

Explanations for Bystanderism

Two Key Studies of Bystanderism

Prosocial Behaviour: Biological Theories of Altruism

Two Key Studies of Biological Theories of Altruism

Prosocial Behaviour: Cognitive Theories of Altruism

Two Key Studies of Cognitive Theories of Altruism

Culture & Prosocial Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Culture & Prosocial Behaviour

Strategies to Promote Prosocial Behaviour

Two Key Studies of Promoting Prosocial Behaviour

Summary Table: Key Studies of Social Responsibility

Exam Tips

Exam Tips & Guidance

Model Answer

Exam Guidance & Skills

Exam Paper Guidance

Paper 1: Structure & Guidance

Paper 2: Structure & Guidance

SAQ Planning & Command Terms

Command terms for SAQs

How to answer an Outline SAQ

How to answer an Explain SAQ

How to answer a Describe SAQ

ERQ Essay Planning & Command Terms

Command Terms for ERQs

How to plan ERQ essays for Paper 1

How to plan ERQ essays for Paper 2

How to Answer a Contrast ERQ

How to Answer a Discuss ERQ

How to Answer a To What Extent ERQ

How to Answer an ‘Evaluate’ ERQ

Exam boards

• DP IB Psychology: HL

Study tools

• DP IB Psychology · Flashcards

Related links

• IB Psychology · Revision Notes
• IB Psychology · Flashcards
• IB Psychology · Glossary