Biological Approach Flashcards
What is the biological approach?
Combines psychology with biology to provide physiological explanations for human behaviour.
Internal physical factors that determine behaviour.
Why do psychologists investigate the genetic base for behaviour?
Psychologists are interested in trying to determine and provide evidence for the extent to which behaviours, or a characteristic such as intelligence,
are the product of inheritance (genes), or
environmental influences.
What are genes?
Inherited from parents can determine IQ, behaviour, personality + neurotransmitters. Genes carry instructions for characteristics- the potential for traits.
What is heritability?
Amount of variation in a trait(behaviour) within a population that can attributed to genetic differences.
-more a trait influenced by genetic factors= greater the heritability
What are the two different types of twins?
Mz Identical twins- 100% shared genetic makeup. -monozygotic
Non-identical-50% shared. -dizygontic, shared womb environment.
Why do psychologists study Mz identical twins?
Genes predispose us to develop particular behaviours. - shared 100% genetic makeup therefore can determine if behaviour is only down to genetics.
What is concordance?
the expected trait for monozygotic twins.
What is a study for genetics?
Bouchard’s twin research.
What did Bourchard’s research suggest about genes?
genes influence smaller traits- eg. preferences. The case of the Jim twins.
What is suggested about biological structures?
The functions of the abrin are localised.
Particular structured affect(regulate) particular behaviours.
What are the characteristics controlled by the frontal lobe?
Thinking, memory, behaviour and movement.
What are the characteristics controlled by the temporal lobe?
Hearing, learning and thinking.
What are the characteristics controlled by the parietal lobe?
Language and touch.
What are the characteristics controlled by the occipital lobe?
Sight.
What are the characteristics controlled by the cerebellum?
Balance and coordination.
What are the characteristics controlled by the brain stem?
Breathing, heart rate and temperature.
What is the case of Phineas Gage and what did it suggest about the brain?
Rod blew through brain.
Personality was changed by brain damage.
Pre- nice+ameable
Post- aggressive+mean
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals in the brain that are passed on through synaptic transition- give balance to certain behaviours.
What is serotonin?
Mood regulation, calming effect/stabilise mood.
What do too low levels cause?
Depression, OCD.
What variant gene will predispose you to low levels of serotonin?
SERT gene.
What is dopamine?
Pleasure
What variant gene will predispose you to high levels of dopamine?
COMT gene.
What do too high levels cause?
OCD, schizophrenia.
What is melatonin?
A sleep hormone.
What do too low levels cause?
Insomnia.
How are neurotransmitters and hormones released?
Biological rhythms.
How is optimal behaviour reached?
Need balance to biological rhythms- homeostasis.
Define genotype.
Genetic makeup- genes you inherit.
-only determine the potential for particular characteristics.
-genes carry information in the form of DNA.
Define phenotype.
Observable characteristics of an individual.
-depends on interactions with genetics and environment.
What is suggested if Mz twins, who share 100% identical genetic makeups, have different phenotypes?
Influenced by different factors of the environment.
eg. one twin has a higher IQ than the other.
Define evolution.
Changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.
What are Darwin’s two main concepts?
Natural selection
Sexual selection
What is natural selection?
The principle that any behaviour that benefits a species, and helps it survive and reproduce, will continue in future generations. Selection occurs because traits are desirable and give species an advantage.
What are examples of beneficial behaviour that humans still have?
Ability to read body language, fear of spiders. - survival instincts.
What is ‘survival of the fittest’?
Animals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on traits.
Example of advantageous behaviour.
Attachments. Born with the drive to attach an emotional bond with an adult caregiver. For survival, tend to us/ keep us safe.
-Cry (social release), remind adult to care.
What are the research methods used?
Concepts of hard science, research highly scientific in nature.
Common methods- laboratory experiments+observations. Objective brain recording and scanning techniques.
What are the positives of this approach?
Scientific approach- cause and effects found.
Lead to treatments, eg. drugs to counteract neurotransmitter imbalance.
Scientific methods it uses are able to find reliability and viability.
Use of complex machinery= accurate+precise.
What are the negatives of this approach?
States no free will- offensive if overrides because suggests mental illnesses are choice.
Search for ‘criminal gene’- always searching for biological reasoning. -ethical issues, treat everyone with genes like criminals.
Lab experiments lack ecological values.
