Approaches: The Biological Approach

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 1

everything psychological has a biological basis (e.g. based on biological processes in the body, genes, neurochemistry, and neuroanatomy)

Question 2

What methods do biological psychologists use?

Answer 2

• the experimental method using technology (such as EEG machines that measure electrical activity in the brain)
• case studies

Question 3

What is the influence of genes on behaviour?

Answer 3

• genes consisting of DNA can code for psychological features such as psychological disorders and intelligence
• these genes are passed on from parent to offspring
• this means we can inherit psychological disorders from parents (e.g. schizophrenia has a strong genetic component and tends to run in families)

Question 4

What is the influence of biological structures on behaviour?

Answer 4

• the CNS (brain and spinal cord) co-ordinates functions and so can co-ordinate behaviour such as movement
• the PNS sends sensory information to the brain, and recieves commands from the brain to pass on to other organs, which can facilitate behaviour such as movement

Question 5

How does the cerebrum influence behaviour?

Answer 5

• the cerebrum is the largest part of the brain
• the cerebral cortex (surface of the cerebrum) is responsible for higher order function such as thought and language
• the cererbrum is divided into two hemispheres
• each hemisphere is divided into four lobes
• the frontal lobe is involved with speech, thought, and learning
• the temperal lobes is involved with hearing and memory
• the parietal lobes deal with sensory information - touch, taste, pain, etc
• the occipital lobe deals with visual information

Question 6

How does neurochemistry influence behaviour?

Answer 6

• through neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that act between neurons within the brain)
• these neurotransmitters can affect mood, thought and behaviour
• e.g. lack of dopamine can lead to mood swings, lack of motivation, and difficulty concentrating
• or through hormones (chemical messengers that travel through the blood stream)
• these hormones can affect behaviour
• e.g. adrenaline prepares the body for fight or flight response

Question 7

What is the genotype and phenotype?

Answer 7

genotype: the specific set of genes a person possesses
phenotype: the physical and observable characteristics of a person that can result from the inherited genes

Question 8

How is the genetic basis of behaviour studied?

Answer 8

• using twin studies and adoption studies
• this can determine whether or not traits have a genetic basis

Question 9

What are twin studies? Give an example:

Answer 9

• twin studies: identical twins share 100% of their genes, and non-identical twins share 50% of their genes
• the comparision of concordance rates (the presence of the same trait in both twins) allows us to estimate the extent to which behaviour or trait has a genetic basis
• e.g. Gottesman carried out a meta-analysis of 40 twin studies. It was found that identical twins have a 48% concordance rate of developing schizophrenia if one of the twins was diagnosed. this reduced to 17% in non-identical twins.
• this suggested schizophrenia has a strong genetic basis

Question 10

What is the role of evolution on behaviour?

Answer 10

• natural selection - charles darwin
• those who are not adapted to their environment will die out, so overtime, only the adaptive characteristics remain as those with these adaptive characteristics are able to survive, reproduce, and pass on these characteristics
• therefore behaviour evolves over time to give evolutionairy advantages
• e.g. memory is advantageous as we can recognise the difference between friends and enemies
• e.g. attachment is advantageous as we can stay close to family, safe and away from danger

Question 11

Evaluation of the biological approach:

Answer 11

• strength: technology is objective e.g. EEG scans
• strength: practical applications - understanding neurochemistry has led to development of drugs to treat psychological disorders, such as antidepressants to treat depression containing the neurotransmitter serotonin
• weakness: it ignores social and cultural influences, focusing solely on the role of nature and not on the role of nurture
• weakness: it is reductionist, as it explains behaviour by breaking it down into smaller parts, such as neurotransmitters being responsible for psychological disorders. we are complex, and it is difficult to reduce the causes of our behaviour to one small component. therefore the biological approach cannot fully explain behaviour