Bio App Flashcards
Assumption of biological apporach
Physical factors such as our hormones, neuroanatomy, nervous system and inheritance of genes can all explain our behaviour
Feature 1 influence of genes on behaviour
Behavioural characteristics such as intelligence, personality and mental illnessss are genetically inherited
Same way physical characteristics e.g hair, eye colour or height thus behaviours run in families
Genetic explanation would argue the Closer genetic link with OCD greater the risk a person would inherit OCD
Genetic probability is measure how ?
By concordance rates, higher it is stronger evidence is for genetic basis of behaviour
What is the percentage of concordance in twin studies ?
monozygotic 87%
dizygotic twins 47%
Define genotype
Specific set of genes that individual has inherited from their biological parents is unique to them
Can give a predisposition to disorders
Define phenotype
Product of what happens when genotype interacts with environment
(Combination of genotype and environment)
This is expressed through physical, behaviour and psychological characteristics
Feature 2 influence of biological structures on behaviour
Biological structure is organ e.g brain, or system such as nervous system such or endocrine system
Brain is one biological structure that can influence behaviour
Abnormalities in size shape or function in certain areas of the brain can lead to certain behaviours
E.g enlarged ventricles in brain increase likelihood of experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia or abnormal functioning of the parahipocampal gyrus links to ocd
Feature 3 influence of
neurochemistry on behaviour
Neurotransmitter is chemical messenger in brain passes information from one synapse to another to produce behaviour/emotion
Imbalance of neurotransmitters can cause abnormal behaviour
Feature 4 evolution and behaviour
Behaviours like physical characteristics are passed through generations
Through process of natural selection where only adaptive (beneficial) behaviours are passed to future generations
Evolution and behaviour
Things that makes behaviour beneficial:
Increase reproductive success greater chance of getting a mate
Increases survival chance help individuals
adapt and thrive in there environment
E.g aggression
Biological approach Ao3
Practical applications, principles of the theory behaviour is caused by imbalance of neurotransmitters used to create treatment
such as SSRis
Effective in treating disorders such as OCD
and depression by increasing serotonin activity blocking re uptake of serotonin leading to decreased anxiety
Biological explanation important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world
Biological approach Ao3 strength
Uses scientific methods so it uses scientific enquiry to investigate human behaviour
Based on objective and empirical techniques such as gene mapping and brain scans like PET scans to identify the location of diffrent types of LTM
Argued this increases overall internal validity of biological explanation of human behaviours raising psychology’s scientific status
Biological approache Ao3 limitation
Criticised biological reductionism
Reduces complex human behaviour down to simple basic units for example genes and nuerochemicals such as imbalance of domphamine linked to schizophrenia
Neglects holistic approach takes into account persons culture and social context would influence human behaviour
May lack validity as it doesn’t allow us to understand the behaviour in context
