Biological approach Flashcards
what are the 3 basic assumptions of the biological approach?
1 - genetics
2 - the CNS
3 - the biochemistry of the body
what does genetics mean as an assumption?
-the genes a person has influences their behaviour
-belief in the process of evolution
-behaviour evolves the same way as physical characteristics
what does the CNS mean as an assumption?
-the brain is the main focus of explaining behaviour and is the origin of how the world is seen and acted upon
what does ‘the biochemistry of the body’ mean as an assumption?
-varying levels of neurotransmitters and hormones relate to a persons behaviour by influencing reactions to the environment
-progression of technology means this idea is rapidly advancing
what is the genotype?
-a persons genetic makeup
-dictates characteristics such as eye colour etc and sets potentials for behaviours such as aggression
-everyone’s genotype is unique (apart from MZ twins)
what is the phenotype?
-the product of what happens when the genotype interacts with the environment
what is the genetic basis of behaviour?
typically, every individual is born with 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are what make our genotype and form the basis of our development
these genes may have an influence over certain behaviours
how are genetic based behaviours researched?
monozygotic twins
if MZ twins show a higher likelihood of sharing behaviours/disorders than DZ twins, its argued that there’s a genetic component
research on genes influencing behaviour
-Grootheest et al 2005 - twin studies on OCD
-Plomin et al 2013 - inheritance of negative schemas
how does evolution explain behaviour?
-its thought behaviour develops the same way as physical characteristics
-a mutation causes a behaviour to occur, if it increases survival rate, the gene will be passed onto offspring
-its thought intelligence and aggression developed this way
research on evolution explaining behaviour
-Chepko-Sade et al 1989 - grooming in rhesus monkeys
-Belsky 1999 - insecure attachment types
what are the 3 biological structures referred to in the biological approach?
-the nervous system
-the neuron
-the endocrine system
how does the nervous system relate to behaviour?
-CNS - transfer messages from the environment, the brain is where most actions and reactions are generated
-PNS - sends and recieves info from the CNS, controls the limbs and torso, carries out behaviours from the CNS
how does the neuron relate to human behaviour?
transfers information between the nervous systems which are what control behaviours as stated before
how does the endocrine system relate to behaviour?
abnormal levels of certain hormones can relate to certain behaviours
