APPROACHES - BIOLOGICAL APPROACH

Question 1

What is the Biological Approach?

Answer 1

Views humans as biological organisms and so provides biological explanations for psychological functioning

Question 2

Define evolution

Answer 2

Refers to the change over successive generation of the genetic make-up of a particular population. The central proposition of an evolutionary perspective is that the genotype of a population is changeable rather than fixed, and that this change is likely to be caused by the process of natural selection

Question 3

Define gene

Answer 3

A part of the chromosome of an organism that carries information in the form of DNA

Question 4

Define genotype

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Define natural selection

Answer 5

The process by which inherited characteristics that enhance an individual’s reproductive success (or ‘fitness’) are passed on to the next generation, and so become more widespread in the population over time

Question 6

Define neurochemistry

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Define phenotype

Answer 7

The observable characteristic of an individual. This is a consequence of he interaction of the genotype with the environment

Question 8

Outline the influence of genes on behaviour

Answer 8

• Genes may be passed from one generation to the next, this is hereditary - often the reason why offspring ‘take after’ their parents
• Genes carry the instruction for a particular characteristic (e.g. intelligence or temperament)
• However, the extent depends on the interaction between this gene and other genes, and potentially the environment
• Every individual differs in terms of personality, intelligence, abilities, etc due to unique combinations of genetic instructions

Question 9

Outline the influence of biological structures on behaviour

Answer 9

• The nervous system carries messages from one part of the body to another, using individual nerve cells known as neurones
• Neurons transmit never impulses in the form of electrical signals - many aspects of behaviour are under neuronal control, including breathing, eating and sexual behaviour
• The largest part of the brain is the cerebrum, making up about 85% of the total mass of the brain - out surface of the cerebrum is the cerebral cortex (responsible for many ‘higher-order’ functions such as thought + language0, which each hemisphere further divided into four lobes

Question 10

Outline the influence of neurochemistry on behaviour

Answer 10

• When a nerve impulse reaches the end of one neuron, a chemical called a neurotransmitter is release
  ^— travels from one neurone to the next across the synapse
• Many types of neurotransmitter, some trigger the receiving neuron to send an impulse (excitatory, e.g. dopamine) and some stop it from doing so (inhibitory, e.g. serotonin)
• Crockett et al. (2008) found that when serotonin levels are low people tend to display increased aggression
• Hormones are chemicals produced by endocrine glands (e.g. pituitary gland) and are secreted directly into the bloodstream, travelling to their ‘target cells’
• Carre et al. (2006) studies a Canadian ice hockey team over a season, and found evidence of a surge in levels of testosterone whenever the team played in their home stadium
  ^— suggests the hormone energise the players to defend their home territory

Question 11

Outline the relationship between evolution and behaviour

Answer 11

• Charles Darwin argued that, over time, organisms become adapted to their environment through biological evolution
• individuals within a species differ from each other in terms of their physical characteristic and behaviour, and at least some variation is inherited
• Because individuals must compete with each other for access to resources (e.g. mates, food, etc), those who survived this competition and go on to reproduce will tend to have behaviours that are more likely to lead to survival and reproductive success
• These behaviours get passed onto offspring and will become more widespread in the population - through the process of natural selection, successive generations will develop behaviours that are even more likely to lead to to survival and reproductive success
• Buss (1989) studies 37 different cultures and found universal similarities in human mate preferences. Women desired mates with resources (to provide for offspring) whilst men desired you, physically attractive women ( and indication of their fertility and reproductive value)