Biological Approach

Question 1

Key assumptions

Answer 1

+It states that everything psychological is at first biological
+It is ∴ vital to study neurochemistry, genes and the nervous system to understand human behaviour.
+The approach believes the mind and the brain are one entity and ∴ all thoughts, fellings and behaviour have a physical state.

Question 2

Neuro-chemical basis of behaviour

Answer 2

+The action of chemicals in the brain
+The imbalance of chemicals have been implicated in mental health disorders such as OCD(serotonin) and schizophrenia(dopamine)

Question 3

Is there a genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 3

+Behavioural geneticists investigate whether traits such as intelligence or personality disorders are inherited.
+Twin studies and adoption studies are often used to study this
+If mono-zygotic twins have a higher concordance rate than dizygotic twins, it would suggest a genetic base.

Question 4

Genotype

Answer 4

Genetic make-up

Question 5

Phenotype

Answer 5

-How genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological.
-Inevitably influenced by the enviroment.

Question 6

Lange twin study(1930)

Answer 6

+13 MZ twin pairs and 17 DZ twin pairs .
+When one was in prison, 10 of the MZ showed criminal behaviour/ 2 of the DZ showed criminal behaviour

Question 7

Evolution and behaviour

Answer 7

+Natural selection=
- Any trait which improves the chances of survival, and ∴ reproduction, is more likely to be passed down on to future generations

Question 8

Evaluation of the biological approach- strengths

Answer 8

Scientific methods
-Use of scanning methods such as fMRI and EEG provide an unbiased way of measuring human behaviour. (Reliable data)

Real-life application
+Increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has helped produce psychoactive drugs for mental illnesses
+Sufferers can manage their condition.

Question 9

Evaluation of the biological approach- weaknesses

Answer 9

Causal conclusions
+When a particular drug reduces symptoms of a disorder, the biological approach assumes that the chemicals in the drug causes the disorder.
+However, this shows association, not necessarily a cause.

Deterministic view of behaviour
-This approach views behaviour as being caused by internal biological causes which we have no control over. It is difficult for people to be responsible for their actions if their actions are governed by genes.