Approaches - Biological Approach

Question 1

Main belief of Biological approach

Answer 1

All behaviour has a physiological (biological) origin

Question 2

Where do behaviourists believe psychological traits come from

Answer 2

Inheritance of genetics

Question 3

What is an example of a gene causing a psychological trait

Answer 3

Gene 5HTI-D beta correlating with OCD

Question 4

How do biological psychologists support theories of genetic traits

Answer 4

Through twin studies

Question 5

Twin studies

Answer 5

Twin studies compare monozygotic twins to dizygotic twins’ concordance rates of a characteristic. Monozygotic twins share 100% DNA but dizygotic twins only share 50%. If the concordance rates are higher for mono-z twins, then the trait is genetic.

Question 6

Genotype

Answer 6

The genetics that are inherited from ancestors

Question 7

Phenotype

Answer 7

How a genotype is expressed as a physical characteristic

Question 8

Theory of evolution

Answer 8

Charles Darwin:
Theory that natural selection allows useful characteristics to be passed down in DNA and useless characteristics to go extinct. This means that genetics evolve over time based on the environment species live in and how a characteristic is useful to them.

Question 9

Neurotransmitters

Answer 9

Chemicals that transmit messages from one neuron to the next across the synapse.

Question 10

Types of neurotransmitter

Answer 10

Excitatory (trigger an impulse)
and inhibitory (stop an impulse)

Question 11

Example of excitatory neurotransmitter

Answer 11

Dopamine

Question 12

Hormones

Answer 12

Chemicals produced by the endocrine glands into the bloodstream which cause a physiological reaction

Question 13

Strengths of biological approach

Answer 13

Uses scientific measures
Real world applications : drug therapies eg. SSRIs for depression

Question 14

Weaknesses of biological approach

Answer 14

Determinist
Difficult to establish true causation from neurotransmitters, only strong correlation