Biological Approach

Question 1

Main assumptions of biological approach

Answer 1

• importance of physical processes in body
• everyone pscyholigcal is at first biological and has physical basis

Question 2

What is believed behaviour is affected by?

Answer 2

1). Genes
2). Central nervous system
3). Biochemistry

Question 3

Term: genotype

Answer 3

Genetic makeup of individual that occurs at contraception and provides genetic code for how individual will develop

Question 4

Term: phenotype

Answer 4

Observable characteristics of an individual that are produced when genotype interacted with environment

Question 5

What is PKU?

Answer 5

• inherited disorder where can’t break down amino acid
• caused by recessive gene
• if have right environment= can be healthy (phenotype)

Question 6

What is the concordance rate?

Answer 6

Rate of probability that 2 people with shared genes will have same characteristics

Question 7

What research has been done for biological approach?

Answer 7

Twin research into genetic basis for behaviour using monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins

Question 8

Term: evolution

Answer 8

Changes in inherited characteristics in population over successive generation

Question 9

Term: natural selection

Answer 9

Process in nature were organisms better adapted to environment tend to survive and reporduce more than those less adapted to environment

Question 10

What is a genotype of a population?

Answer 10

Changeable rather than fixed change is likely be caused by process of natural selection

Question 11

What are the processes to natural selection?

Answer 11

1). Random mutation in genetic makeup
2). Mutation increase chance of survival
3). Individual survives and passes on mutation through reproduction
OR
2). Mutation decrease chance of survival
3). Individual dies and trait dies out as not passed on

Question 12

Term: neurotransmitters

Answer 12

Chemicals that transmit messages between neurons

Question 13

Term: hormones

Answer 13

Created in endocrine system and carried around body in blood

Question 14

Examples of neurotransmitters

Answer 14

1- noradrenaline- increases motivation
2. Dopamine- increases arousal
3. GAPA- increases calming effect

Question 15

Examples of hormones

Answer 15

1. Testosterone- increases aggression
2. Oestrogen- controls periods
3. Cortisol- result to be on high alert

Question 16

Strengths of biological approach

Answer 16

1. High objectivity: scientific (blood tests, brain scans)
2. Practical app: increase understanding of neurochemicals processes to treat mental disorders w drugs antidepressant

Question 17

Limitations of biological approach

Answer 17

1. Nature: too simple to explain all behaviour
2. Causality issues: assumes genetics cause behav, parents w dep not mean child have dep
3. Determinism: sees human behav governed by genetic cause we have no control over, genotypes heavily influenced by env, too simplistic, ignores mediating effects of env- no free will