7- biological approach (genetics/biological structures)

Question 1

what is the biological approach

Answer 1

• views humans as biological organisms and provides biological explanations for psychological functioning
• interested in the genetic bases of behaviour and chemical changes in the nervous system as well as hormones

Question 2

define heredity

Answer 2

• passing of characteristics from one generation to the next through genes
• reason why children resemble parens in psychological and physical traits

Question 3

describe genetics

Answer 3

• genes carry instructions fro characteristics but development depends on interaction of evens and the environment (extent = nature-nurture debate)
• important difference between genotype and phenotype, e.g may inherit recessive genes but it won’t get expressed if there is a dominant gene for another characteristic
• we can’t identify genotype by observing phenotype
• each individual has unique combination go genetic instructions so we differ in personality, abilities etc.

Question 4

define genotype

Answer 4

the genetic code that is written in the DNA of an individual’s cells

Question 5

define phenotype

Answer 5

the physical appearance that results from inherited information

Question 6

explain genetics in relation to monozygotic twins

Answer 6

• identical genotypes but can have different phenotypes so can behave very differently
• caused by environmental changes

Question 7

define heritability

Answer 7

• extent that variability within a trait in a population can be attributed to genetic differences
• more a gene is expressed = greater heritability
• twin studies show intelligence could be 60-80% due to genes

Question 8

desire evolution and behaviour

Answer 8

• Darwin argued organisms adapt to the environment through biological evolution over time
• mechanism behind biological evolution is natural selection
• individuals in a species differ in physical and behavioural characteristics and some of this variation is inherited
• individuals compete for resources and those who survive reproduce and have behaviours that make them successful in competition and this is passed onto offspring
• through natural selection, successive generations will develop behaviours that are even more likely to lead to survival and reproductive success

Question 9

describe biological structures

Answer 9

• CNS (brain/spinal chord) and PNS (somatic/autonomic systems)
• nerurons carries nerve impulses as electrical signals to convey messages from one part of the body to another (controls many behavioural aspects e.g. breathing)
• cerebrum is largest part of the brain and is split into 2 hemispheres which are split into lobes
• cerebral cortex is responsible for higher order functions like thought/language