Biological Approach

Question 1

What was the approach in the 1980’s?

Answer 1

The biological approach

Question 2

When was the biological approach?

Answer 2

1980s

Question 3

What allowed researchers to develop this area of psychology?

Answer 3

The advances in technology

Question 4

Give examples of some technological advances that allowed researches to study more?

Answer 4

The use of scanning techniques such as fMRI and EEG

Question 5

What was the role of these scanning techniques?

Answer 5

to study the live activity of the brain

Question 6

What is the new aspect of the biological approach?

Answer 6

The study between genes and behaviour

Question 7

What method allows us to study the relationship between genes & behaviour?

Answer 7

genetic testing

Question 8

What is the biological approach

Answer 8

A perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function

Question 9

Define genes

Answer 9

They mak up chromsomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features. Genes are transmitted from parents to offsprings

Question 10

Define biological structure

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Define neurochemistry

Answer 11

Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 12

Define genotype

Answer 12

The particular set of genes that a person possesses

Question 13

Define phenotype

Answer 13

The characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

Question 14

Define evolution

Answer 14

The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

Question 15

What is the assumption of the biological approach

Answer 15

That everything that is psychological is at first biological so in order to fully understand human behaviour we must look into biological structures and processes

Question 16

From a biological perspective where does the mind live

Answer 16

In the brain, which means all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a.physical basis

Question 17

What is the biological approach in contrast to

Answer 17

The cognitive approach, which sees mental processes of the mind being separate from the physical brain

Question 18

What do our thoughts and behaviours usually rely on?

Answer 18

A lot of our thoughts and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain and this is done by neurotransmitters

Question 19

What is a possible reason for mental disorders

Answer 19

An imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain

Question 20

What are examples of imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain

Answer 20

.Low level of serotonin neurotransmitters in OCD
.low levels of dopamine neurotransmitters in schizophrenia

Question 21

What are psychological characteristics inherited the same way as?

Answer 21

The same way as hair or eye colour

Question 22

What are twin studies used for?

Answer 22

They are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis

Question 23

How are twin studies analysed for their purpose

Answer 23

This is achieved by analysing concordance rates

Question 24

What are concordance rates

Answer 24

The extent to which twins share the same characteristics

Question 25

What would we expect if all characteristic is genetic

Answer 25

That all identical twins would be concordant whereas for non identical twins it wouldn’t

Question 26

What are monozygotic twins

Answer 26

Identical twins

Question 27

What are dizygotic twins

Answer 27

Non identical twins who share around 50% of the same genes

Question 28

What is assumed for both identical and non identical cases

Answer 28

That the environment is assumed to be constant

Question 29

What is a persons genotype

Answer 29

Their actual genetic makeup

Question 30

What is a phenotype

Answer 30

It is the way that genes are expressed through physical behavioural and psychological characteristics

Question 31

Are twin genes always presented in the same way ?

Answer 31

No because despite having the same genes, the way identical twins genes are expressed is different

Question 32

What do many biological psychologists accept

Answer 32

That human behaviour depends upon interaction between inherited factors and the environment

Question 33

Is inherited factors nature or nurture?

Answer 33

Nature

Question 34

Is the environment nature or nurture

Answer 34

Nurture

Question 35

Who proposed the theory of evolution and natural selection

Answer 35

Charles Darwin

Question 36

What is the main principle of the theory of natural selection

Answer 36

That any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual survival, will continue in future generations

Question 37

How does natural selection work

Answer 37

Similar to selective breeding

Question 38

How does natural selection take place in terms of nature

Answer 38

It takes place ‘naturally’ as no one ‘decides’

Question 39

Why does natural selection naturally take place

Answer 39

Because some traits give the possessor certain advantages and so they are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on the traits

Question 40

What happens if individuals survive but don’t reproduce

Answer 40

The traits don’t remain in the gene pool for successive generations

Question 41

What are the 2 strengths of the biological approach

Answer 41

.It has real world application as it has promoted the treatment for certain conditions such as clinical depression .they use scientific methods and so it makes us of a range of precise and highly objective methods

Question 42

What are the limitations of the biological approach

Answer 42

.a counterpoint is that although certain drugs and treatments work for people it may not work for all and this challenges the vale of the BA .it is determinist as it sees human behaviour to be governed by internal genetic causes and it suggests that the BA is too simplistic and ignored the mediating effects of the environment

Question 43

Define gene

Answer 43

A part of the chromosome of an organism that carries information in the form of DNA. This DNA codes the physical (e.g. hair colour) and psychological (e.g. intelligence) features of an organism.

Question 44

Define neurochemistry

Answer 44

The study of chemical and neural processes associated with the nervous system that regulate psychological functioning. This includes the role of neurotransmitters and hormones.

Question 45

Define heredity

Answer 45

The passing of characteristics from one generation to the next through genes

Question 46

Define neurotransmitters

Answer 46

Chemicals that travel across the synapse (the gap between neurons) to transmit messages.

Question 47

Define biological factors

Answer 47

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

Question 48

What is the equation with genotype, phenotype and environment

Answer 48

Genotype + Environment = Phenotype