Approaches - biological approach

Question 1

biological approach

Answer 1

view humans as biological organism and so provides biological explanations for all aspects of psychological functioning.

Question 2

evolution

Answer 2

change in genetics overtime. caused by natural selection. genotype of a population is flexible rather than fixed.

Question 3

gene

Answer 3

sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait

Question 4

genotype

Answer 4

genetic makeup of an organism

Question 5

natural selection

Answer 5

a process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits

Question 6

neurochemistry

Answer 6

the study of chemical and neural processes associated with the
nervous system

Question 7

phenotype

Answer 7

physical characteristics of an organism

Question 8

case of the Jim Twins

Answer 8

twins separated at birth - but lived same life unconsciously, same wives names, car, children’s names, jobs, hobbies, etc. 500,000:1 chance of them being coincidences

Question 9

Bouchard

Answer 9

twins separated at birth just as similar as twins who grew up together. genes create structures in the brain which drive behaviour

Question 10

heredity

Answer 10

the passing on of characteristics from one generation to the next

Question 11

how do characteristics develop?

Answer 11

genes carry instructions for characteristics. how characteristics develop is based on how genes interact with other genes and what the environment (nature vs nurture)

Question 12

what is neurochemistry?

Answer 12

biochemicals affect behaviour. hormones travel around in the blood and neurotransmitters transmit nerve impulses across a synapse

Question 13

what do neurochemical imbalances do?

Answer 13

cause abnormal behaviour

Question 14

electrical impulses

Answer 14

communication in nervous system, directing our behaviour

Question 15

research methods used in biological approach

Answer 15

brain damaged patients
twin studies
MRIs
selective breeding
experimenting with chemicals
deliberately damaging specific areas of animal brains

Question 16

Darwin

Answer 16

evolution by natural selection - evolutionary psychology - how people adapt to their changing environments

Question 17

variation

Answer 17

any difference between individuals of the same species

Question 18

competition

Answer 18

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Question 19

Buss (1989)

Answer 19

mate selection. studied 37 different cultures, 10,000 pts
women desire mates with resources (to provide for offspring)
men desire mates who are young and attractive (reproductive value and fertility)

Question 20

animal studies

Answer 20

many species thought to have similar biological makeup to humans, so behaviour can be generalised.

Question 21

drug therapy

Answer 21

biological therapy that uses medications

Question 22

scans

Answer 22

psychology and activity across brain can be studied, meaning we can identify specific functions of areas in the brain

Question 23

twin/family studies

Answer 23

allows us to research heritability of behaviour

Question 24

evaluation of biological approach

Answer 24

+ understand the role of the brain more
+ scientifc and advanced methods
+ develop drugs to treat mental disorders -> people living happier lives
- reductionist -> reduces all behaviour to physical processes
- ignores impact of environment
- simplistic -> doesn’t fully explain social factors
- research on animals = unethical, can’t be generalised?