Biological Approach

Question 1

What does the biological approach suggest

Answer 1

-physiological explanations for behaviour
-explain behaviour in terms of physical factors within the body eg brain, hormones, neurotransmitters, genes.
-infections of the brain can cause mental illness

Question 2

What is Genetic basis of behaviour

Question 3

What is heritability

Answer 3

Amount of variation in a gene
- the more a trait is influenced by genetic factors the greater the heritability.

Question 4

Twin study’s

Answer 4

Identical twins - share 100% DNA
-concordance rate- extent to which the twins share similar traits
-but they differ because of different environmental experiences even though they have the same genotype and phenotype.
- if one has schizophrenia the concordance rate for the other to have it is not 100% , just means they’re more likely to be predisposed to it.

• suggests biological factors are not souk explanation for behaviour.

Question 5

What is a genotype

Answer 5

-Inherited -Genetic makeup of organism
-The genetic programming that makes your phenotype
-Eg - height, IQ
Genotype + environment = phenotype

Question 6

What is a phenotype

Answer 6

Not inherited- Physical characteristics of an organism
-genotype + environment = phenotype
-skin colour, hair type etc
-Environmental factors can influence the phenotype
Eg skin colour - depends on UV exposure
You can inherit low IQ (genotype) but be in an environment where you’re pushed to work hard so IQ ^ (phenotype)

Question 7

Twins

Answer 7

Same genetic makeup but different phenotypes due to different experiences and environment.

Question 8

What does Evolution mean

Answer 8

The change in inherited characteristics over time

Question 9

Evolution of behaviour

Answer 9

Desirable traits that benefit a species by helping them to survive and reproduce 👶 will continue in the future.
- because women will want to mate with them as the traits are desirable so want to pass them down to offspring and this is called natural selection.
-these traits give the species an advantage so they survive and pass them on.

Question 10

Genes

Answer 10

-Genes carry info in the form of DNA
-genes only determine the potential for a particular characteristic (genotype)
-phenotype depend in interaction of genotype and environment

Question 11

CNS and Neurotransmitters

Answer 11

-CNS- brain and spinal cord

-neurotransmitter levels can be determined genetically
Eg schizophrenia is linked to high marvels kg dopamine and this high level can be due to genes.
- but u can take drugs to lower it.

Question 12

Phineas Gage

Answer 12

-iron rode went through his brain
-his personality changed from friendly and sociable to hostile, violent and antisocial.
-shows that there are particular parts of the brain that are responsible
for different behaviours.

-✖️however it’s a case study and therefore not generalisable, could just have happened by chance.

Question 13

Evaluation

Answer 13

✖️- scientific, controlled, objective eg scans and done in labs and machines allowing for accurate measurements and limits human error.
- real life application - leads to drug treatments to fix neurotransmitter imbalances eg serotonin increase to help depression.

✔️-too deterministic- behaviour is a result of your genes no free will
-lack ecological validity because in controlled lab environment.