biological approach

Question 1

what are the differences between phenotype and genotype?

Answer 1

genotype - non-observable, not changeable, can be inherited
phenotype - observable, changeable, can’t be inherited

Question 2

what is a concordance rate and what does it mean in twin studies?

Answer 2

• the extent to which twins share the same characteristic
• 100% means if 1 twin develops it then the other one in the sample always develops it
• 50% means 1/2 of the sample share it but the other 1/2 don’t share it

Question 3

what are the assumptions in the biological approach?

Answer 3

• all behaviour is on a physical basis, everything psychological at first is biological so we must look human biology to fully understand human behaviour
• behaviour is inherited in the same way as physical characteristics and is therefore genetically determined
• neurochemistry and neuroanatomy are important in explaining certain behaviours
• importance of evolutionary factors in understanding behaviour - arguing that behaviour enhanced survival were naturally selected

Question 4

what is an example of an evolutionary factor that contributed to understanding behaviour?

Answer 4

how memory developed - helped solve problems related to survival like where food was stored and location of predators

Question 5

what are the strengths of the biological approach?

Answer 5

1. uses scientific methods to investigate behaviour as it uses experiments as its main method of investigation as well as brain scans to look at neuroanatomy, experiments are highly controlled and often easy to replicate and brain scans are objective and precise - the approach is based on reliable data
2. • allows us to make predictions about behaviour and consequently introduce treatments
     - eg. our understanding of the effect of neurotransmitters has led to use of psychoactive medication to treat depression which acts on serotonin in the brain - means sufferers are able to get help and not having to stay in hospitals
     - as well as increasing quality of life this helps our economy therefore the approach is beneficial in society

Question 6

what are the weaknesses of the biological approach?

Answer 6

1. it is deterministic - sees human behaviour as entirely caused by internal biological factors with no consideration for freewill
   - whilst the approach is useful for creating treatments, it may provide excuses for antisocial behaviour and consequently it could have negative implications for wider society
2. it is reductionist - believes that complex human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down to its smallest parts such as action genes or neurotransmitters
   - we may not be able to fully understand a behaviour without taking into account other factors including cognitive, emotional and cultural
   - may be too simplistic when trying to explain complex disorders or behaviours

Question 7

what is the role of adrenaline in the fight or flight response?

Answer 7

• once the hypothalamus has perceived the stressor, activity in the SNS is triggered and leads to release of adrenaline in bloodstream from adrenal glands
• has a whole range of effects on body preparing for f or f eg. increased heart rate to pump more blood to brain and muscles, increased respiration to take in as much oxygen as possible
• increased blood flow to muscles allow for physical action and increased blood flow to brain for rapid response planning

Question 8

what is the process of the fight or flight response?

Answer 8

• faced with threat and amygdala is mobilised
• amygdala receives sensory signals of threat and sends distress signal to hypothalamus
• triggers activity in the ANS which changes from its parasympathetic to sympathetic state
• it sends signals to adrenal gland to release adrenaline into blood stream
• has a wide range of effects on body
• once threat is over, PNS dampens down threat and returns body to rest and digest state

Question 9

what is the function of the endocrine system?

Answer 9

• to regulate bodily processes
• does this by producing and releasing hormones from glands in the body
• these travel around the bloodstream to reach and influence target cells/organs
• eg. thyroid gland regulates metabolism by releasing thyroxine

Question 10

what are the basic assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 10

• argues that everything psychological is at first, biological so we must look at biological structures and processes in the body to fully understand human behaviour
• behaviour is inherited in the same way physical characteristics and is therefore genetically determined eg. OCD
• neurochemistry is also an important feature in understanding behaviour - neurotransmitters and hormones influence behaviour and abnormal levels of either may explain abnormal behaviour
• draws attention of the importance of evolutionary factors in understanding behaviour - argues human behaviour that enhanced survival were naturally selected