Approaches- biological approach

Question 1

4 key assumptions

Answer 1

All behaviour is driven by physical (or physiological) factors

Genetic factors, biological structures and neurochemistry drives behaviour

Emphasises our NATURE (internal forces) in shaping behaviour

Most scientific of the approaches (e.g., uses precise measurements such as fMRIs to record responses and experimental methods to increase validity and reliability)

Question 2

Adaptation

Answer 2

Adaptation refers to a behaviour or trait that will increase the chance of survival and boost reproductive success.

Question 3

Natural selection

Answer 3

The process where inherited characteristics that enhance survival (or fitness) are passed onto the next generation.
This occurs over thousands of generations (i.e. it’s hardly at all noticeable in a couple of generations).

Question 4

Darwin suggested what

Answer 4

suggested that all our behaviour - in our minds and bodies - has been acquired through a process known as:

Natural selection

Survival of the fittest
Herbert Spencer (1879)

Question 5

Behavioural genetics tries to identify whether behaviours like…
…. are inherited in the same way as our physical characteristics like eye colour.

Answer 5

Intelligence
Aggression
Personality
Mental illnesses

Question 6

Genotype

Answer 6

The genetic constitution of an individual (each and every cell contains this copy).

Question 7

Phenotype

Answer 7

This is the result of your genetic material interacting with your environment to establish a behaviour.

Question 8

PKU

Answer 8

A rare genetic disorder that can be detected in babies using the heel prick test.
PKU can cause severe learning difficulties in those who carry the genotype

Question 9

OCD and genetics

Answer 9

OCD is a polygenic condition and individuals with one of the candidate genes are likely to develop the condition.
Twin study = Nestadt (2010) found a concordance rate of 0.67 (or 67%) for MZ (identical) twins but only 0.31 (or 31%) for DZ (fraternal) twins.
Hence, the closer the genetic relationship to a sufferer the greater the risk of developing OCD

Question 10

What did Raine et al do

Answer 10

Raine used PET scans to identify several areas of murderers brains (who pleaded NGRI) as significantly different to matched controls.

Reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus

Abnormal asymmetries - reduced activity on the left and greater activity of the right hemisphere

Question 11

Neurochemistry and behaviour

Answer 11

• Concerns all of the brains chemical processes that take place in the brain

Question 12

GABA

Answer 12

• Inhibits or reduces the activity of neurons or nerve cells
• Produces a calming effects

Question 13

Adrenaline

Answer 13

Released in a potentially dangerous situation
prepares the body for a fight or flight response

Question 14

Serotonin

Answer 14

• Plays an important role in regulating mood, sleep and digestion
• high levels = serotonin syndrome
• low levels = depression

Question 15

Evaluation, application

Answer 15

The biological approach has made significant contributions to help society including accessible ways to treat mental health problems.
Insights from biological approach has given us knowledge into the causes of mental disorders. As such effective drug treatments have been developed that are quick acting for many disorders.
For example, antipsychotics given to patients suffering from schizophrenia can quickly stabilise behaviour in up to 85% of patients.
This means that the biological approach has ultimately benefited society and can be seen as extremely useful.

Question 16

Evaluation, issues with research (animals)

Answer 16

A lot of research and knowledge gained from the biological approach has taken place on non- human animals.
Animal research is often criticised by ‘evolutionary discontinuity’. This means that humans have qualitative differences (non-numerical) to all other species which means animal research cannot generalise to humans effectively. For example, humans have a language acquisition device (LAD) in their brains that no other animal possesses. This makes human behaviour unique.
This means that the biological approach may lack validity and questions the moral and ethical implications involved in its research.

Question 17

Evaluation, scientific

Answer 17

The biological approach is praised for being extremely scientific.
The approach uses both objective and falsifiable methods to help identify biological roots of behaviours.
For instance, NT levels can be objectively measured through cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF) as well as carefully examining urine.
This means the biochemical actions suggested are likely to be trustworthy and reliable deserving of respect and government funding.

Question 18

Evaluation, good evidence

Answer 18

There is lots of credible evidence to support the biological approach.
For example, Maguire - using MRI scans - discovered that London ‘cabbies’ had developed more grey matter in their hippocampus than matched controls.
Also, that a positive correlation existed - the longer they had been a taxi driver (with the ‘knowledge’) the greater the structural differences in the hippocampus.
This means the approach has evidence to validate its claims, and can be seen as falsifiable.

Question 19

Evaluation, issues with evidence

Answer 19

However, many studies in the biological approach, including the one above have methodological issues.
For example, in the Teubar (1975) study younger soldiers with brain damaged recovered more than older soldiers (60% under 20 showed big improvements compared to only 20% if over 26) and a negative correlation was found between age and recovery.
However, this DOES not show cause and effect – we cannot assume that the key factor was AGE that reduced plasticity - it could be other factors such as the amount of conflict soldiers had witnessed that damaged recovery.
This means we cannot establish cause and effect, reducing the validity of the biological approaches