4.2.1 BIOLOGICAL Flashcards
what are the assumptions of the biological approach?
- all behaviour is strongly influenced by our genetic makeup and genetic inheritance
- behaviour is not learned from others around you -> it’s innate
- everything psychological is first biological
-> genetics
-> nervous system
-> brain
-> biological processes
what are the features of the biological approach?
- humans have evolved to behave in certain ways that have allowed the species to survive
-> gradual change in genetic makeup of a species over time - human behaviour influenced by genetic makeup and genetic inheritance
- uses biological structures to explain behaviour
- makes use of twin studies to study behaviour and the involvement of genetic factors
what is Darwins Theory of Natural Selection?
- theory of natural selection
in any given species
- the ‘weaker genes’ die out
- adaptive genes survive
- human behaviour has therefore become ‘wired in’ due to evolution
what is Bandura’s study?
METHOD
STUDY ONE (1961)
children observed:
- adult behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll
(hitting it with a mallet, verbal aggression)
- adult behaving non-aggressively towards a Bobo doll
STUDY TWO (1961)
children observed an adult who was:
- rewarded
- punished
- there was no consequences
what were the findings?
BANDURA
STUDY ONE
- when given their own doll to play with
- children who’d seen aggressive behaviour were more aggressive towards the doll
- boys were more aggressive than girls
-> testosterone links to aggressive behaviour
this is how kids learn
STUDY TWO
- after interacting with the Bobo doll
- when given their own dolls, the children who’d seen aggressive behaviour rewarded were more aggressive towards the doll
-> vicarious enforcement
evaluate Bandura’s study?
- bobo dolls are meant to be hit -> demand characteristics
- practical application -> video games
- boys / girls (biology argument)
- exposing them to violence and no consequence
what is the definition of genetics?
- study of the genetic makeup of organisms and how genes influence physical and behavioural characteristics
what’s the definition of hereditary?
- traits, characteristics and behavioural tendencies inherited from one’s parents and in turn their ancestors
what’s the definition of genotype?
- actual genetic makeup
eg) height / hair / eye colour
what’s the definition of a phenotype?
- expression of genotype due to environment
how can we carry out family studies?
concordance rate = % of similarity between 2 people for a trait
- the higher the %, the more likely a genetic trait
- there’s never 100%, no trait is purely genetic
- none of them have the same genetics but have shared environment
- cannot separate nature from nurture
how can carry out twin studies?
- same genetics (monozygotic [rare])
- same environment
- look at concordance rate
-> still cannot isolate the role of learning
how can we carry out adoption studies?
- monozygotic twins
- split them and raise each in a different environment
- if the same behaviour occurs then it’s genetic
- if it’s different then it’s learnt or environmental
how can we carry out animal and brain studies?
ANIMAL
- using rats / mice
BRAIN
- fMRI
- PET scans
- CAT scans
- MRI scans
what are some applications of the biological approach?
1) understanding of the role of neurotransmitters
- led to the development of drugs
- these are effective in the treatment of mental disorders
- eg) schizophrenia / depression
- enables many sufferers to lead a fairly normal life
- however these drugs aren’t effective for all patients
- they can have serious side effects
- they don’t cure disorders
- if the patients stop taking the drug the symptoms reappear
what are some strengths of the biological approach?
1) uses scientific research methods
- like EEGs, fMRI, PET scans and twin studies
- these produce objective data
- can be replicated and peer reviewed
2) the approach can provide evidence to support / disprove a theory
- is a very scientific approach
3) if a biological cause is found for mental health problems / unwanted behaviour
- biological treatments can be developed
how can twin studies be a limitation of the biological approach?
1) could be argued that twin studies don’t separate nature and nurture
- twins are raised and live in the same environment
- difference in concordance rate found between MZ and DZ twins could be bc MZ twins are treated more similarly by their parents than DZ twins bc they look similar
- usually we don’t find 100% concordance rate in MZ twins for mental disorders
-> indicates environmental and social factors must be involved in the development
what are some other limitations of the biological approach?
1) could be argued that the unbalance in neurotransmitters such as low serotonin in depressed individuals is the consequence
- rather than the cause of depression
- the brain is a plastic organ
- changes with the way we use it
- could be that the depressed thinking causes the low level of serotonin
2) the approach is determinist
- sees our behaviour as caused entirely by biological factors which we have no control over
- encourages ppl not to take responsibility for their own actions
- blame their genetic makeup
3) approach is reductionist
- reduces our behaviour to the outcome of the actions of genres and other biological processes
- neglecting the effects of childhood and our social and cultural environment
4) imbalance in neurotransmitters is usually not directly observed
- it’s deduced from drug trials
- patients are given the drugs
- seen to improve
- we deduce that it was the lack of the neurotransmitters which cause the disorder but this might not be the case
