biological approach Flashcards
what does the biological approach believe?
● everything psychological is at first biological
● biological approaches suggest you’re born with your behaviour
how does the biological approach differ from the learning approaches?
● biological approach - born with behaviour
● learning approach - behaviour is learnt
what are the 3 assumptions of the biological approach?
● behaviour has a genetic basis
● behaviour is influenced by evolution
● behaviour is due to effect of our neurochemistry
how are genes transmitted from their parents to their offspring?
inheritance
what do researchers uses to determine whether a behaviour is genetic or not?
twin studies
what do identical twins share?
100% of their genes (genotype)
what do fraternal twins share?
50% of their genes
what does monozygotic mean?
identical twins
what does dizygotic mean?
fraternal twins
what does concordance mean?
● extend to which both twins have the same characteristics
● expressed as a percentage
what is a genotype?
an individual’s genetic makeup
what is a phenotype?
● observable traits or characteristics show by individual
● due to combined effect of both genes and environment
explain evolution
● changes that take place in inherited characteristics of population over time
● changes occur due to natural selection
what is natural selection?
● individuals who possess traits that make them well adapted to environment will survive, reproduce and pass on genetic traits to offspring
● whereas those without advantageous traits won’t reproduce and die out
explain neurochemistry
● chemicals in brain that regulate psychological functioning, such as neurotransmitters
