biological approach Flashcards
assumptions
suggegsts everything psychological was once biological
To understand behaviour we must look to biological structures
Mind lives in the brain - all thoughts feelings and behaviour must have a physical basis
Cognitive believed they were separate
Neurochemical basis of behaviour
Neurochemistry is action of chemicals in the brain
Our thought and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain
An imbalance of neurochemcals in the brain could cause mental disorders
E.g overproduction of dopamine can cause schizophrenia
Genetic basis of behaviour
Intellegence can be inherited
Twin studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis
Achieved by analysing concordance rates - the extent to which the twins share the same characteristics
For identical twins you would expect them to be concordant as they share 100% of their dna but non identical only 50%
This is assuming the environment is constant for both
Genotype and phenotype
Genotype is actual genetic make up
Phenotype is the way genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics
Despite having same genes the way they are expressed is different for each twin
Behaviour depends on interaction between inherited factors and the environment
PKU
Rare genetic disorder that can be dete Ted in babies through a heel prick test and causes severe learning difficulties. If found early then child can be placed on strict diet and not go on to have these learning difficulties
Evolution and behaviour
Charles Darwin
Natural selection
Genetically determined behaviourenhances chance of survival
Strength: real world application
Increased understanding of neurochemivcal process in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugsto treat mental disorders
Promoted treatment of clinical depression using anti depressant drugs which increases level of neurotransmitter serotonin at synapses
This means ppl with depression are better able to manage their condition
However
Anti depressants don’t work for everyone
Study by cipriani et Al (2018) compared 21 anti depressant drugs and found wide variation in their effectiveness
Although most drugs more effective than placebo in trials research hers concluded that their effects were mainly modest
Challenges value of approach as suggests brain chem alone does not account for all cases of, for example, depression
Strength: scientific methods
Uses highly objective methods
Use of scanning techniques EEG AND FMRI scans
Advances in tech means we can accurately measure neural proxcess in way that’s not open to bias
Approach is based on reliable and objective data
Limitation: bio.ogical determinism
Sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic cause which we have no control over
But persons phenotype is heavily influenced by environment Purely genetic argument become problematic when looking at things such as crime
No ‘crime gene’
Approach is too simplistic and ignores influence of environment
