Approaches in Psychology - Biological Approach Flashcards
What at first is everything psychological?
Everything psychological is at first biological. If we want to fully understand human behaviour we must look to biological structures and processes within the body, such as genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system.
What basis does behaviour have?
Behaviour has a genetic and neurochemical basis. Behaviours are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics such as height or eye colour. For example, the 5HT1-D beta gene implicated in OCD. Neurochemistry also explains behaviour, for example low levels of serotonin in OCD.
What is the link between mind and body?
The mind and body are one and the same. From a biological perspective, the mind lives in the brain - meaning that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis.
This is in contrast to the cognitive approach which sees the mind as separate from the brain.
What are twin studies?
Twin studies are used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour.
Concordance rates between twins are calculated - the extent to which twins share the same characteristic. Higher concordance rates among identical twins than non-identical twins is evidence of a genetic basis.
What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
- A person’s genotype is their actual genetic make-up.
- Phenotype is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics.
- The expression of genotype (phenotype) is influenced by environmental factors.
- This suggests that much of human behaviour depends on the interaction of nature and nurture.
What is the theory of evolution?
The theory of evolution is used by the biological approach to explain many aspects of behaviour.
- Charles Darwin (1859) proposed the theory of natural selection.
- Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival and reproduction will be passed on to future generations.
- Such genes are described as adaptive and give the possessor and their offspring advantages.
- For instance, attachment behaviours in newborns promote survival and are therefore adaptive and naturally selected.
What are the strengths of the biological approach?
- It uses scientific methods of investigation. The scientific approach lends credence to the study of psychology, establishing it as a respectable science.
- It has real-life applications. The impact of biology on behaviour can lead to treatment and intervention to those suffering.
What are the weaknesses of the biological approach?
- Causal conclusions about neurotransmitters are difficult to establish.
- The approach is based on a determinist view of behaviour, and is reductionist.
- A methodological problem is the difficulty of separating nature and nurture.
- Ignores the role of the environment.
- Lab experiments lack ecological validity and restricted samples makes findings difficult to generalise.
Why is a strength of the approach that it uses scientific methods?
In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly scientific methods.
These include scanning techniques (e.g. fMRIs) and drug trials. It is possible to accurately measure biological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias.
This means that the biological approach is based on reliable data.
Why is a strength of the approach that it has real-life application?
Increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental disorders, such as depression.
Although these drugs are not effective for all patients, they have revolutionised treatment for many.
This is a strength of the approach because it means that sufferers are able to live a relatively normal life, rather than in hospital.
Why is a weakness of the approach that causal conclusions about neurotransmitters are difficult to establish?
The role of neurotransmitters in mental illness comes from studies that show a particular drug reduces symptoms of the disorder by changing levels of neurotransmitter. It is assumed that the neurotransmitter is the cause.
This is a bit like assuming that the cause of a headache is lack of paracetamol simply because paracetamol is effective in relieving symptoms of a headache.
This is a limitation because the biological approach is claiming to have discovered causes where only an association exists.
Why is a weakness of the approach that it is based on a determinist view of behaviour?
The biological approach is determinist in that it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control.
However, this is at odds with the legal system which sees offenders as responsible for their actions. The discovery of a ‘criminal gene’ may complicate this principle.
Such research may have (possibly negative) implications for wider society as criminals may be able to excuse their behaviour.
Why is a weakness of the approach that there is difficulty separating nature and nurture?
Identical twins, non-identical twins and members of the same family all have genetic similarities, so any similarity in the way they behave must be genetic from a biological perspective.
However, the fact that family members are exposed to similar environmental conditions is an important confounding variable.
This is a problem for the biological approach because findings could be just as easily interpreted as supporting nurture rather than nature.
What are the methods of investigating the genetic basis of behaviour?
- twin studies
- family studies
- adoption studies
- selective breeding
What are monozygotic twins?
One zygote - these twins are formed when a fertilised cell splits into two and forms two separate embryos. Identical.
