Biological Approach

Question 1

What does the biological approach sugguest?

Answer 1

• All human behaviour has biological origin.
• To understand human behaviour, we have to understand biological structures such as genes.

Question 2

What is nuerochemistry?

Answer 2

• The action of chemicals in the brain.
• Behaviour relies on chemical action in the brain.
• e.g. low levels of serotonin contributes to OCD.

Question 3

Define concordance rates

Answer 3

Extent to which twins share the same characteristics.

Question 4

Explain how twin studies investigate whether characteristics have a gentic basis.

Answer 4

• Researchers analyse concordance rates.
• Research use MZ twins as they share 100% DNA.
• e.g. we expect MZ twins to have same eye colour.
• DZ twins only share 50% DNA

Question 5

Define genotype

Answer 5

Refers to the genes an individual posesses.

Question 6

Define phenotype

Answer 6

Genotype refers to the observable characteristics shown by the individual, determined by boths genes and environment.

Question 7

Charles Darwin’s theory

Explain evolution and behaviour

Answer 7

• 19th century, Charles Darwin proposed theory of natural selection to explain evolution in plants and animals.
• Behaviour that increases chances of survival are passed onto future generations.
• e.g. Giraffes long necks

Question 8

What are the evaluations of the biological approach?

Answer 8

• Real-world application
• (counterpoint) Antidepressants don’t work for everyone
• Uses scientific methods
• Determinist

Question 9

Evaluation: Determinist

Answer 9

• Limitation: Determinist.
• It sees human behaviour as caused by genetic causes which we have no control over.
• However an individual’s phenotype is determined by environment not only genes.
• Not even identicle twins who share the same genes look the same and think the same.
  In a court system, a criminal cannot excuse their behaviour by claiming their behaviour was controlled by a ‘crime gene’ to get a shorter sentence for example.
• Biological approach is often too simplistic

Question 10

Evaluation: Uses scientific methods

Answer 10

• Strength: Uses scientific methods
• Methods are highly objective and systematic to investigate genetic and biological basis of behaviour.
• E.g. scanning techniques such as MRIs and PETS to measure nueral processes produce objective and reliable data
• Biological approach increases scientific credibility of psychology.

Question 11

Evaluation: Real-world application

Answer 11

• Strength: Real-world application.
• Increased understanding of nuerochemistry has led to development of psychoactive drugs.
• For example antidepressants used for the treatment of clinical depression.
• They increase levels of the nuerotransmitter, serotonin, at synpases in the brain which decrease depressive symptoms.
• Means people are able to manage their condition and live normally, rather than. remain in hospital.

Question 12

Evaluation: (counterpoint) Antidepressants don’t work for everyone.

Answer 12

• (counterpoint) Antidepressants don’t work for everyone.
• Study - Cipriani
• compared 21 antidepressant drugs - wide variations in effectiveness.
• although most of the drugs were more effective than placebos, researchers concluded effects of them were mainly modest.
• challenges value of biological approach - sugguests nuerochemistry doesn;t account for all cases of depression for e.g.