Approaches - The Biological Approach

Question 1

What is the biological approach

Answer 1

A perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function.

Question 2

What are genes

Answer 2

They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features. They are transmitted from parents to offspring i.e. they are inherited.

Question 3

What is a biological structure

Answer 3

arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing.

Question 4

What is neuro chemistry

Answer 4

Relating to chemicals in the brain to regulate psychological functioning.

Question 5

We’d fine genotype

Answer 5

The particular set of genes that a person possesses.

Question 6

Define phenotype

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Define evolution

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are the assumptions of the biological approach

Answer 8

Humans are biological organisms made up of physiological processes

Everything psychological is biological at first

To explain human behaviour fully we must look at biological structures and processes such as genes, neurotransmitters and the nervous system

Mind lives within the brain therefore all thoughts , feelings and behaviours ultimately be biological in origin

Question 9

Genes are ——- from one generation to the next

Answer 9

Inherited

Question 10

What do genes carry ?

Answer 10

Instructions for a particular characteristic such as intelligence

Question 11

The way characteristics develop is due to what

Answer 11

The gene and party due to the enviroment

Question 12

How can the likelihood that certain traits have a genetics base is determined by what

Answer 12

Comparing concordance rates between twins

Question 13

MZ twins (identical) twins will share what

Answer 13

100% of each other’s gene

Have a predisposition to have the same characteristics

Question 14

DZ twins (non identical) will share what

Answer 14

50% of each other’s genes

Question 15

If the MZ twins are found to have a higher concordance rate than dz twins what does it suggest

Answer 15

That the characteristics being investigated has a genetic basis

Question 16

Explain the distinction between genotype and phenotype

Answer 16

Genotype- genetic code in the dna
Phenotype - physical appearance that results from the inherited information
Genotype and environmental influence

Question 17

What does the phenotype show about human behaviour

Answer 17

Human behaviour depends on an interaction between inherited factors (nature) and the enviroment (nurture)

Question 18

How can two people have the same genotype but a different phenotype

Answer 18

Due to their personal choices (the environment) to alter their appearance such as dying their hair or piercing
Different environment such as

Question 19

What does natural selection suggest

Answer 19

Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival and reproduction will continue in further generations

Question 20

Why does natural selection occur

Answer 20

Some traits give possessor a certain advantage which allows them to survive , reproduce and pass on their genes

Question 21

What is a strength of the biological approach (scientific)

Answer 21

The biological approach uses scientific methods.

The approach uses experimental methods as its main method of investigation which involves highly controlled and sophisticated imaging and recording techniques, including PET scans and fMRIs.

Experimental studies are easy to replicate, thus adding validity to the original findings if they can be reproduced.

Question 22

What is another strength of the biological approach

Answer 22

successful in developing treatments for psychological disorders.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) stop the reuptake of serotonin in the synapse and increase the level of serotonin being absorbed by the post-synaptic neuron, alleviating the symptoms of OCD.

The biological approach has therefore helped improve the lives of many sufferers of a range of disorders by providing suitable drug treatment

Question 23

What is a limitation of the biological approach

Reductionist

Answer 23

One criticism of the biological approach is that it is reductionist.

explains behaviour by breaking it down into genes, hormones and neurotransmitters ignores cognitive and environmental factors.

For example, the biological approach explains OCD through low levels of serotonin only.

However, there are other factors that can contribute to OCD and the biological approach does not consider these other factors.

Question 24

What is another limitation of the biological approach

Answer 24

The biological approach is deterministic.

It sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control.

individuals are not in control of their behaviour and have no free will to make any decisions.

This has implications for the legal system and wider society as one of the rules of the law is that offenders are seen as legally and morally responsible for their actions.
Eg-> discovery of a “criminal gene”, if there were such a thing, would complicate this principle.

Question 25

If the concordance rate for a characteristic is 50% for identical twins what conclusions can we get from this

Answer 25

Characteristic is partly due to genetics

Another factor that is present that effects likelihood of developing characteristic as concordance rate isn’t 100%

Question 26

the genotype will be the same for who

Answer 26

MZ twins