2.1 - Approaches In Psychology (set F - Biological Approach)

Question 1

What is the biological approach?

Answer 1

combines psychology and biology and aims to explain how we think and feel as a result of factors within our body

• focused more on the genetic basis of behvaiour

Question 2

Outline 4 assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 2

• investigates how biological structures and functions of the brain impacts on behaviour
• Much of behaviour has a biological cause which may be genetically or environmentally altered
• The nervous system including hormones and neurotransmitters affect behaviour
• Behaviour can be inherited (as it is determined by genetic information)

Question 3

What does the biological approach say about disease and infections in regard to behaviour?

Answer 3

Infections and diseases can play a role in mental illness for example schizophrenia

• acknowledges that genes play a large role in certain disorders

Question 4

Outline the influence of genes on behaviour?

Answer 4

Genes can carry instructions for characteristics eg personality or iq, However how it develops depends on interaction of the gene with other genes and the environment

• play a large part in certain disorders eg Schizophrenia

Question 5

Define heritability?

Answer 5

amount of variation in a trait, or behaviour within a population that can be attributed to genetic differences

• studies of identical twins have suggested that the variation in individual intelligence could be 60-80% due to genes

Question 6

Define genotype?

Answer 6

The genetic make-up of an individual - the genotype is a collection of inherited genetic material that is passed from generation to generation

Question 7

define phenotype?

Answer 7

The observable characteristics of an individual - this is a consequence of the interaction of the genotype with the environment

Eg height or eye colour

Question 8

Outline genetic variability?

Answer 8

genes function in pairs and the recombination of genes from parents to offspring provides the basis for genetic variability

Question 9

Outline how the relationship between the genotype and phenotype is not direct?

Answer 9

if their are two identical twins (concordance rate of 100%) who’s parents are smart then they will have the genetic potential to also be smart - however if the environmental conditions were different for each twin then they could differ due to the environment affecting the expression of the gene

Question 10

Outline the influence of neuron’s and the nervous system on behaviour?

Answer 10

• nervous system carries messages from one part of the body to another using neurons
• many aspects of behaviour are under neuronal control (eg breathing and eating)

Question 11

Outline the systems which make up the nervous system?

Answer 11

• central nervous system (CNS) comprises the brain and spinal cord
• peripheral nervous system (PNS) comprises the somatic and autonomic nervous system

Question 12

Outline the influence of the brain on behaviour?

Answer 12

• largest part of brain is cerebrum (85% of total mass)
• outer surface of cerebrum called cerebral cortex - responsible for higher order functions (language and thought)
• cerebrum divided into two hemispheres each divided into 4 lobes

Question 13

Outline how neurotransmitters work?

Answer 13

When nerve impulse reaches end of neurone, neurotransmitter is released, which travels across synapse

• two types excitatory neurotransmitters and inhibitory neurotransmitters

Question 14

Outline what excitatory neurotransmitters are?

Answer 14

Neurotransmitters that trigger nerve impulses in the receiving neurone and stimulates the brain into action

Eg dopamine - associated with our ‘drive’ and motivation

Question 15

Outline what inhibitory neurotransmitters are?

Answer 15

Neurotransmitters that inhibit nerve impulses in order to calm the brain and balance mood

• eg serotonin - adequate amounts are necessary to maintain a stable mood

Question 16

Outline the role of neurotransmitters like serotonin on behaviour?

Answer 16

Inhibitory transmitter - adequate amounts are necessary to maintain a stable mood

• Crockett et al (2008) found that when serotonin levels are low people tend to display increased aggression

Question 17

Outline the role of different components of the brain on behaviour?

Answer 17

Frontal lobes - involved with functions such as speech, thought and learning

Temporal lobes - involved with hearing and memory

Parietal lobes - process sensory information such as touch, temperature and pain

Occipital lobes - process visual information

Question 18

Outline the influence of hormones on behaviour?

Answer 18

Chemicals produced by the endocrine glands in response to a signal from the brain - secreted into the bloodstream where they travel to their ‘target cells’ and stimulate receptors on the cell surface

Question 19

Provide research evidence regarding hormones effect on behaviour?

Answer 19

Carré et al (2008) studied Canadian ice hockey team over the course of a season - found evidence that the hormone testosterone surged whenever the team played in their home stadium - suggesting the hormone energised the players to defend their home territory

Question 20

Explain evolutionary psychology?

Answer 20

tries to understand human behaviour as the result of psychological adaption and natural selection

Question 21

Define natural selection?

Answer 21

Process by which inherited characteristics that enhance an individuals reproductive success are passed on to the next generation, and so become more widespread in the population over time

Question 22

Outline evidence that the brain is responsible for behaviour?

Answer 22

Phineas Gage - metal rod went through head causing him to loose his left eye, went through hitting his brain - he ultimately survived but his friends noticed his behaviour had changed from being soft spoken and nice to now being aggressive and unpleasant - this allows us to link the part of his brain (the front) to behaviour/personality

Question 23

Give 3 neurotransmitters and explain them?

Answer 23

Melatonin - hormone responsible for sleep - high levels of melatonin cause you to sleep a lot

Adrenaline - high levels for adrenaline causes stress, emotion and arousal

Testosterone - high levels can affect sex and aggression

Question 24

Outline the concordance rate amongst twins?

Answer 24

Monozygotic (identical twins) - have nearly 100% concordance

Dizygotic (non-identical twins) - have around 50% concordance

Question 25

Outline the link between evolution and behaviour?

Answer 25

Animals’ that survive and are able to reproduce pass on behaviours that will contribute to a species survival through process of natural selection

Question 26

Give an example of evolution - with focus on changes in humans?

Answer 26

have evolved to have less prominent jawlines and teeth, this could be a result of a change in diet, as humans are no longer eating hard foods and lots of meat and therefore don’t require that many teeth

Question 27

Outline the types of research methods the biological approach uses?

Answer 27

• Draws on concepts from the hard sciences and research tends to be highly scientific in nature, involving lab experiments and observations
• Objective brain recording and scans techniques are also used
• Objective, factual and scientific

Question 28

Outline 3 strengths of the biological approach?

Answer 28

• Scanning research techniques are useful for investigating the functions of the brain: an organ with obvious involvement in our behaviour that would otherwise be unobservable
• The approach presents the strong nature viewpoint of the nature-nurture debate.
• The experimental methods used (gathering empirical [i.e. observable] evidence) make this approach very scientific

Question 29

Outline 3 weaknesses of the biological approach?

Answer 29

• The approach is considered reductionist; complex behaviour, thoughts and emotions are all equally explained by low-level biological mechanisms such as biochemicals and nerve impulses
• Biology alone has been unable to explain the phenomenon of consciousness
• An extreme biological approach does not account for the wide base of evidence that points to the influence of our environment (e.g. culture and society)

Question 30

What is the biological approaches stance on the nature v nurture debate?

Answer 30

Strongly nature - genes play a large role in behaviour, phenotype is affected by the environment

Question 31

What is the biological approaches stance on the free will v determinism debate?

Answer 31

Determinism - genes, structure of brain, evolution and neurotransmitters are the only things that affect behaviour