Biological Approach Flashcards
What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?
Humans are viewed as biological organisms
All thoughts and cognitive processes stem from biological origins
-Counters cognitive approach, as it believes that the ‘mind’ is in the brain rather than separate to it
Genes, hormones, neurotransmitters and neurochemical mechanisms are used to explain behaviour
Role of neurotransmitters
Released when a nerve impulse reaches the end of one neuron (neurotransmitter travels across the synapse)
-Excitatory neurotransmitters generates action potential (electrical impulse) in the post-synaptic neuron
-Inhibitory neurotransmitters inhibit action potential (electrical impulse) in the post-synaptic neuron
What is an example of an excitatory neurotransmitter and what does it do?
Dopamine
-associated with drive and motivation
What is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter and what does it do?
Serotonin
-an adequate amount is needed to maintain a stable mood (hence why too much Serotonin increases aggression)
Role of hormones
Chemicals produced in the endocrine glands, E.G the pituitary gland in the endocrine system
-In response to a signal in the brain, hormones are secreted directly into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands
-They then travel to their ‘target cells’ and stimulate receptors in or on those cells, altering the cells activity
What is the role of genetics?
Each individual possesses a unique combination of genetic instructions
-Hence, we differ from eachother in terms of personality, intelligence, abilities etc.
Heritability
Heritability is a measure of how well differences in people’s genes account for differences in their traits
-The more a trait is influenced by genetic factors, the more heritability it has
What is a genotype?
The genetic code which is ‘written’ in DNA
What is a phenotype?
The physical characteristic resulting from a genotype and environment
Why is there not always a direct relationship between the genotype and the phenotype?
Someone may inherit a RECESSIVE gene for blue eyes, but also inherit a DOMINANT gene for brown eyes.
-The dominant gene (brown eyes) will be displayed
-Even though they have a blue eye gene (genotype), it does not necessarily mean that blue eyes will be the phenotype
AO3 +
Practical application - development of drugs
Increased understanding of biological processes to do with mental health problems
-led to the development of drugs for disorders, like depression and schizophrenia
-These drugs can target specific candidate genes
-Some drugs also alter neurotransmitter levels, like chlorpromazine which is a dopamine antagonist (blockers)
-These normalise neurotransmission in the hypothalamus and reduce brain activity in people with Sz
Drug therapies are beneficial as they require MINIMAL EFFORT FROM PATIENTS
AO3 +
Scientific Methods
Biological approach uses scientific brain scans:
EEG, PET, fMRI
-These can be used to objectively and systematically measure the biological or neural basis of behaviour
-This scientific method allows drugs to be developed on this same basis
Family and adoption studies also lead to a greater correlational understanding of concordance rates and characteristics
The Biological Approach is therefore reliable, and also improves the scientific credibility of psychology as a whole
AO3 -
Biological determinism - causes problems in the legal system
The biological approach suggests that all behaviour is caused by internal biological forces, and that we have NO control over them
Legal system expects people to take moral responsibility for their actions
-If criminality can be blamed on a gene there would be diminished responsibility for these offenders
-These offenders may be given shorter sentences if they are found to possess a gene which is linked to criminal behaviour
Therefore biological determinism has serious consequences as it can reduce responsibility for negative actions, and cause them to be carried out more with less punishment
AO3 -
Twin studies - can’t differentiate between effects of nature and nurture
MZ twins show higher concordance rates for psychological characteristics than DZ twins
-Biological approach says that this is solely due to them sharing 100% of genes
-However, it could be due to MZ twins sharing a more similar environment than DZ twins (identical parenting styles and treated the same by peers)
Therefore this is a limitation of the biological approach as it ignores environmental (nurture) factors to explaining behaviours
-An interactionalist approach should therefore be used
