biological approach

Question 1

what is the biological approach ?

Answer 1

an approach that combines psychology and biology to provide *physiological explanations for human behaviour
this tried to explain how we think, feel and behave in terms of physical factors within the body

Question 2

what are the basic assumptions of this approach

Answer 2

.everything psychological is at first biological
.the approach investigates how biological structures and process within the body impacts on behaviour
.much of human behaviour has a physiological cause which may be genetically or environmentally altered.
.psychologists should study the brain, nervous system and other biological systems eg hormones, chemicals acting on the brain (neurochemicals)
.the mind lives in the brains in contrast to the cognitive approach sees mental process of the mind as being separate from the physical brain

Question 3

what are neurochemicals

Answer 3

chemicals relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological funtioning

Question 4

how can we investigate the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 4

twin studies
family studies
adoption studies
selective breeding

Question 5

Twin studies (what are monozygotic twins)

Answer 5

One zygote-these twins are formed when a fertilised cell splits into two and forms two separate embryos

Question 6

Twin studies (what are dizygotic twins) 222

Answer 6

Two zygotes these twins are formed when two separate eggs both become fertilised by different sperm cells

Question 7

describe the views of Francis Galton ….. abilities

Answer 7

1869 … all natural abilities are inherited
this is a simplistic viewpoint and Galton had to later agree that any resemblance between family relatives could be a results of both genes and shared environment

Question 8

what are adoption studies

Answer 8

these studies involve comparing a trait or characteristic between adopted children and their biological or adoptive parents

Question 9

selective breeding

Answer 9

male and female species put together to breed
selective breeding has been used to demonstrate how a number of behavioural characteristics may have a genetic basis e.g maze bright rats

Question 10

what studies show that behaviours are genetically determines

Answer 10

twin, family and adoption studies show that certain behaviours such as intelligence are genetically predetermined

Question 11

what studies show behavioural characteristics have a genetic basis

Answer 11

selective breeding studies have demonstrated how a number of behavioural characteristics such as aggression can have a genetic bias