biological

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 1

1) Everything physiological is at first biological
2) to understand human behaviour, we must look at genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system
3) Our behaviour is determined by our biology

Question 2

What is Darwin’s theory of evolution?

Answer 2

That desirable traits are more likely to be passed on through reproduction, because of this an offspring is more likely to survive and pass on the genes once again

Question 3

What is the benefit of studying twins?

Answer 3

It allows researchers to estimate biological and environmental impact on a person.

Question 4

What is the general rule for whether or not a trait is environmentally influenced?

Answer 4

If twins reared together share a trait more closely than twins reared apart, the trait is environmentally influenced

Question 5

What are monozygotic twins?

Answer 5

Twins that share 100% of their DNA

Question 6

What are dizygotic twins?

Answer 6

Twins that share around 50% of their DNA

Question 7

What is a concordance rate?

Answer 7

The extent to which twins share a trait

Question 8

What is a genotype?

Answer 8

A predisposition of a person’s traits (genetic makeup)

Question 9

What is a phenotype?

Answer 9

A person’s physiological characteristics

Question 10

What is the ‘equation’ which links genotype and phenotype?

Answer 10

Genotype+Environment=Phenotype

Question 11

What are some benefits of the biological approach?

Answer 11

• Very objective
• Uses scientific method
• Very high generalisation (humans generally have the same biology regardless of culture)

Question 12

What are some limitations of the biological approach?

Answer 12

• Belittles the importance of environmental impacts
• Very deterministic (doesnt consider social interaction/thought processes)
• Controlled environment can put the person under stress (alter results)