biological approach

Question 1

biological approach

Answer 1

perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body eg genetics and neural function

Question 2

genes

Answer 2

make up chromosomes and consist of DNA - codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features

genes transmitted from parents to offspring

Question 3

biological structure

Answer 3

arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing

Question 4

neurochemistry

Answer 4

relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 5

genotype

Answer 5

the set of genes that a person possesses

Question 6

phenotype

Answer 6

the characteristics of an individual determined by genes and environment

Question 7

assumptions

Answer 7

everything psychological is at first biological

must look to biological structures and processes within the body

Question 8

neurochemical basis of behaviour

Answer 8

actions of chemicals in brain

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

imbalance in brain eg low serotonin for OCD and overproduction of dopamine in schizophrenia

Question 9

genetic basis

Answer 9

inherited - twin studies and concordance rates

monozygotic and dizygotic

Question 10

evolution and behaviour

Answer 10

darwin - natural selection - any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survive will continue in future generations

Question 11

real-world application

Answer 11

P - strength as real-world application
E - neurochemical processes - psychoactive drugs to treat mental disorders
E - eg antidepressants that increase neurotransmitter serotonin at synapses in the brain
L - people with depression manage to condition

P - however, does not work for everyone
E - study - 21 antidepressants - wide variations in effectiveness
E - most drugs more effective than placebos
L - challenges value of biological approach as brain chemistry may not account for all cases

Question 12

scientific methods

Answer 12

P - strength as uses scientific methods of investigation
E - in order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach makes use of range of precise and objective methods
E - fMRIs and EEgs - accurately measure physiological and neural processes
L - based on objective and reliable data

Question 13

biological determinism

Answer 13

P - limited as deterministic
E - sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic causes over which we have no control
E - genotype - phenotype shows environment does have role and not even concordance rate with monozygotic twins 100%
L - biological view is often too simplistic and ignores the mediating effects of the environment