Biological Approach

Question 1

What does the biological approach combine?

Answer 1

biology and psychology to provide a nature explanation

Question 2

To fully understand human behaviour, we need to look at…

Answer 2

biological structures and processes within the body
may include:
-genetics
-the brain structure
-brain processes (neurochemistry)
-nervous system
-endocrine system (hormones)
-evolution.

Question 3

What’s the first assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 3

the neurochemical basis of behaviour

Question 4

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 4

actions of chemicals in the brain and much of our thought and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain

Question 5

What has different effects on behaviour?

Answer 5

• different neurotransmitters
• different levels of neurotransmitters

Question 6

How does serotonin affect behaviour?

Answer 6

• linked with mood and arousal
• disrupted/ low levels = associated with depression

Question 7

How does dopamine affect behaviour?

Answer 7

• linked with learning, arousal and feelings of pleasure
• high levels = linked with addictions and positive symptoms of schizophrenia (eg delusions and hallucinations)

Question 8

What’s the second assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 8

the genetic basis of behaviour

Question 9

What are genes?

Answer 9

• short sections of DNA
• acts as a code for a particular physical characteristic (eg hair colour, eye colour, straight hair, curly hair, height, ear lobe shape etc)

Question 10

What do biopsychologists suggest about psychological characteristics?

Answer 10

they are inherited the same way as physical characteristics
(eg being introverted, musical, intelligence etc)

Question 11

What’s a good way to study the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 11

twin studies

Question 12

What types of twins are there?

Answer 12

• monozygotic (MZ)
• dizygotic (DZ)

Question 13

MZ twins:

Answer 13

• monozygotic
• identical
• share 100% same genes

Question 14

DZ twins:

Answer 14

• dyzygotic
• non-identical
• share 50% same genes (like all siblings)

Question 15

What is assumed in the twin studies?

Answer 15

• that both types of twin pair grew up in identical environments (nurture)
• so, the only real difference is genetics

Question 16

Twin studies look at the…

Answer 16

• concordance rates of twins with respect to the psychological characteristic being considered.
• these are expressed as a percentage
• percentage is the probability of one twin having the characteristic if the other already has it

Question 17

Which type of twin would have a higher concordance rate for a genetic psychological component?

Answer 17

• MZ
• they are 100% genetically the same

Question 18

What is the third assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 18

genotype and phenotype

Question 19

What is our genotype?

Answer 19

our genetic make-up

Question 20

What is our phenotype?

Answer 20

the observable expression of characters and traits
(physically see)
eg appearance and behaviours

Question 21

What is the expression of the genes in our phenotype influenced by (to varying degrees)?

Answer 21

environmental factors (nurture)

Question 22

The biological approach accepts that there is an interaction between…

Answer 22

inherited factors (nature) and the environment (nurture)

Question 23

What is the fourth assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 23

evolution and behaviour

Question 24

What is evolution?

Answer 24

• occurs due to variations in characteristics between individuals being inherited due to those heatures being more adaptive
• ie helping to ensure survival and reproduction
• this is a process called natural selection

Question 25

Is evolution a fast or slow process?

Answer 25

slow and gradual

Question 26

What should still exist from our early ancestors?

Answer 26

• behaviours that helped them survive and reproduce
• known as biological preparedness
• eg the fight or flight response