approaches: biological approach

Question 1

what is the biological approach?

Answer 1

the biological approach argues that as humans are biological beings, their behaviour should be explained as the result of biological structures and processes

Question 2

what are the focuses of the biological approach?

Answer 2

• the role of inheritance and genes
• the function of the nervous system and the endocrine system
• the structure and function of neurones and the role of neurotransmitters

Question 3

how is a biological perspective relevant to the study of psychology?

Answer 3

Comparative method: different species of animal can be studied and compared. This can help in the search to understand human behaviour.

Question 4

what are psychologists trying to determine on a genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 4

psychologists are trying to determine the extent to which behaviours or characteristics such as intelligence or aggression, are the product of inheritance (genes) or environmental influences

Question 5

what is the endocrine system?

Answer 5

a body-wide system of glands
- each gland releases chemical messengers called hormones

Question 6

what happens during the fight or flight response?

Answer 6

• during the fight or flight response, the brain signals the adrenal gland to release adrenaline
• this hormone travels through the bloodstream, enhancing blood flow to the brain and muscles while decreasing it to digestive organs and skin

Question 7

how can hormones have long term effects on the body and behaviour?

Answer 7

sex hormones like testosterone and oestrogen play roles in developing gender-specific physical features
- testosterone is associated with male traits and is linked to increased aggression

Question 8

how do biological structures influence behaviour?

Answer 8

the brain is the centre of all conscious and unconscious thoughts

Question 9

what is the localisation of function

Answer 9

the localisation of function is the idea that specific brain areas are responsible for certain functions

Question 10

what does the brain stem do?

Answer 10

the brain stem controls core physiological functions, including heart rate and breathing

Question 11

what is the cerebellum involved in?

Answer 11

the cerebellum is involved in coordinating muscle movements and balance

Question 12

describe the cerebrum:

Answer 12

• the cerebrum has two hemispheres connected by a bundle of nerve fibres called the corpus callosum
• each hemisphere is subdivided into four lobes: occipital (visual perception), temporal (auditory), parietal (sensory), and frontal (rational decision making)

Question 13

what is the limbic system?

Answer 13

the limbic system is the emotional centre of the brain and has structures called the amygdala, the thalamus and the hippocampus

Question 14

what does the brain’s biological structure consist of?

Answer 14

the brain’s biological structure consists of nerve cells, or neurons through which information travels electrically

Question 15

what happens between neurons?

Answer 15

these neurons do not physically touch each other; there is a gap between them known as the synaptic cleft. At this location, known as the synapse, the electrical signal must be converted into a chemical signal to continue its journey to the next neuron

Question 16

what are methods of investigating the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 16

• twin studies
• family studies
• adoption studies

Question 17

what do twin studies provide geneticists with?

Answer 17

Twin studies provide geneticists with a kind of natural experiment in which the behavioural likeness of identical twins (whose genetic relatedness is 1.0) can be compared with the resemblance of dizygotic twins (whose genetic relatedness is 0.5)

Question 18

why are psychologists interested in studying twin studies?

Answer 18

to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis

Question 19

how are twin studies investigated?

Answer 19

analysing concordance rates which demonstrates the extent to which twins share the same characteristic

Question 20

what is the theory on twin studies and genetics and behaviour?

Answer 20

If heredity (i.e., genetics) affects a given trait or behavior, then identical twins should show a greater similarity for that trait compared to fraternal (non-identical) twins.

Question 21

what are the two types of twins?

Answer 21

• Monozygotic = identical twins (share 100% genetic information).
• Dizygotic = non-identical twins (share 50% genetic information, similar to siblings).

Question 22

what would we expect if a characteristic is genetic?

Answer 22

if a characteristic is genetic, we would expect all identical (monozygotic) twins to be concordant (they share 100% of the same genes)

Question 23

how can concordance rates determine whether biological factors affect behaviour?

Answer 23

if concordance rates (which can range from 0 to 100) are significantly higher for identical twins than for fraternal twins, then this is evidence that genetics play an important role in the expression of that particular behaviour.

Question 24

what is some evidence of genes having an influence on behaviour based on twin studies?

Answer 24

• the general population has a 2% prevalence rate for OCD
• first-degree relatives of people with OCD have a 10% concordance rate
• non identical (dizygotic) twins have a 31% and identical (monozygotic) twins have a 68% rate
• these higher rates in close family members suggest that genes do have an influence on behaviour

Question 25

what are genes?

Answer 25

basic units of heredity that make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which encodes the physical features of an organism

Question 26

what are genotypes?

Answer 26

the particular set of genes that a person possesses

Question 27

what is the phenotype?

Answer 27

the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

Question 28

what is an example of genotypes and phenotypes?

Answer 28

an individual’s genes determine hair colour (genotype) and the hair colour depends on environmental factors such as excess sunlight, diet etc (phenotype)

Question 29

how is aggression related to genotype and phenotype?

Answer 29

geneticists have identified a gene mutation in a gene which produces the enzyme

Question 30

what is evolution?

Answer 30

the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

Question 31

what theory did Charles Darwin propose in the 19th century?

Answer 31

the theory of natural selection

Question 32

what is the main principle of the theory of natural selection?

Answer 32

any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will be passed onto future generations i.e. be naturally selected

Question 33

what does evolutionary psychology explain?

Answer 33

evolutionary psychology explains behaviour today as a legacy of behaviour that developed in the past in the environment of evolutionary adaptiveness (EEA) i.e. when the brain was developing

Question 34

how does survival of the fittest play a role in evolutionary psychology?

Answer 34

survival of the fittest plays a role in evolutionary theory as those better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, explaining that behaviour is today is the result of behaviour developed in the past

Question 35

what does neurochemistry refer to?

Answer 35

relating to chemistry in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 36

what happens at a synapse?

Answer 36

neurotransmitters are released at the synapse to enable communication between two neurones

Question 37

what roles do neurotransmitters play?

Answer 37

neurotransmitters play a range of roles influencing behaviour:
- serotonin is associated with well-being and happiness
- dopamine is linked to pleasure
- noradrenaline influences attention
- glutamate affects learning and memory

Question 38

what evidence is there to show that neurochemistry plays a crucial role in influencing behaviour?

Answer 38

• a meta-analysis by Soomro combined data from 17 studies involving 3,097 participants
• found that SSRIs significantly reduced OCD symptoms compared to placebos
• this not only confirms the effectiveness of SSRIs as a drug therapy but also supports the idea that neurochemistry plays a crucial in influencing behaviour

Question 39

evaluating biological approach: scientific methods (strength)

Answer 39

• the biological approach draws upon concepts from the hard sciences and research tends to be highly specific in nature
• in order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach uses scanning techniques such as fMRIs and EEGs
• these methods offer direct observation and highly controlled studies, providing more objective data than self-reports or inferences common in other approaches
• similar to methodology of behaviourism but dissimilar to humanistic and psychodynamic

Question 40

evaluating biological approach: real-life application (strength)

Answer 40

• understanding biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of effective drug treatments
• e.g. depression is now successfully treated with drugs such as SSRIs
• allows individuals to lead functional lives, go to work, have relationships etc that might not have been possible
• this allows the economy to continue by ensuring a healthy, productive workforce
• (counter) although antidepressant drugs are successful for many patients, they don’t work for everyone and can be addictive and have side effects
• suggests that brain chemistry alone may not account for all cases

Question 41

evaluating biological approach: determinism (limitation)

Answer 41

• the biological approach is determinist in that it believes all actions are predetermined by biological factors and denies the role of free will
• arguing criminal behaviour is due to a ‘criminal gene’ could challenge legal principles of responsibility
• individuals cannot choose their genes
• has implications on legal system and wider society
• suggesting mental health issues are solely to biology could imply that individuals have no control over their conditions, potentially making them reliant on medications like antidepressants
• suggests the biological view is too simplistic and ignores the meditating effects of the environment
• a cognitive soft determinist perspective that individuals can influence their own mental states and actions is more empowering