Biological approach Flashcards
4 main biological elements
Genetics
Biological structures
Neurochemistry
Evolution
Genotype
Individuals genetic make-up which determines both physical and psychological characteristics
Phenotype
Environmental that affect our genotype
Twin studies
Used as strong evidence for a genetic cause for anorexia
Holland found that monozygotic twins had a higher chance of developing anorexia due to their higher genetic similarity, 56% concordance in MZ, 5% concordance in DZ
Phenotypes in anorexia
Phenotypes must be an important contributing factor in the development of anorexia as, if genetic factors were the only cause, we would expect 100% concordance amongst MZ twins as they share 100% of their genes
However, only 56% of MZ twins share the disorder, meaning phenotypes (including, media, peer & social pressures) must influence it’s development.
Biological structure procedure
Brain scans have been used to investigate brain damage as cause for human behaviour
Using correlation analysis, differences between the brains of normal participants and those with a mental disorder may suggest that the behaviour associated with the disorder is caused by abnormal brain structures
Research shows
Patients with schizophrenia have 20% larger ventricles which is thought to cause delusions & hallucinations
Neurochemistry procedure
Biochemical studies have been used as evidence that neurotransmitter levels cause mental abnormality.
Evolution
Argued that evolution plays a role in explaining human behaviour
Natural selection is the gradual process by which inherited characteristics become more common in a population as they offer some environmental advantage that makes it more likely for an individual to survive
This aids reproduction so the offspring inherit these characteristics, making them genetically programmed
Adaptive behaviours
Behaviours that mean you are more likely to survive and pass on your genes
Strength s
Scientific
Which is when an approach is based on scientific and objective measures that are controlled and rigorous and allow for replication
E.g. the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly scientific methods including scanning techniques (MRIS’s, EEG’s), twin studies and genetic testing
This suggests that as it is possible to accurately measure biological and neural processes in ways not open to bias, the foundations of the approach must be reliable
Strength r
Real life application
Which is when the principles of an approach are put into practice outside the laboratory
E.g. is psychoactive drugs which can be used to treat serious health disorders including depression, OCD and anxiety, helping patients manage their conditions
The success of these treatments and how patients can lie a relatively normal life adds credibility to the biological approach and assumptions
Limitation c
Difficult to establish cause and effect
Which is when a method doesn’t allow for a casual relationship to be established between the IV and DV, decreasing internal validity
E.g. support for the role of neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin) in mental illness (e.g. depression) comes from studies that show that anti-depressants change the levels of neurotransmitters and therefore reduce depressive symptoms. It is therefore assumed that the neurotransmitter is the cause
This is a limitation as the biological approach is claiming to have discovered causes where only an associated exists.
Limitation b
Biologically determinist
This is when an approach suggests that behaviour is caused by external biological factors and only these factors shape behaviour
E.g. it states that all human behaviour is caused by genetics, brain structure, neurochemistry and evolution which we cannot control, however, this is at odds with the legal system which sees offenders as responsible for their own actions
Therefore this causes us to question the validity of the biological approach as an explanation for human behaviour
