biological approach Flashcards
What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?
Biological psychologists believe that to fully understand human behaviour, we must research biological processes and structures within the body such as the brain and genes.
What are twin studies?
Twin studies are used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between pairs of twins.
If monozygotic twins are found to have higher concordance rates than dizygotic twins this would suggest genetic basis.
This is because identical twins share 100% of each other’s genes, whilst non identical twins share 50% of each other’s genes.
What is the difference between a genotype and phenotype?
A person’s genotype is their actual genetic make up. Genotypes are present within the chromosomes of the individuals and thus cannot be observed.
Phenotype is the way genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics – they are observable.
How can phenotype be influenced by environmental factors?
A phenotype is influenced by environmental factors – for example identical adult twins usually look slightly different because one has exercised more or one has dyed their hair. – so despite having the same genes (genotype) the way identical twins genes are expressed (the phenotype) is different.
So how is human behaviour determined according to biological psychologists?
Therefore, biological psychologists propose that human behaviour depends upon an interaction between inherited factors from nature and the environment (nurture).
Can you fully outline Darwin’s Natural Selection Theory?
Some traits give a certain species a particular advantage, those that have those traits survive, those who don’t die out.
Those who do survive, reproduce and eventually all species will have this certain trait, continuing over generations.
Natural selection affects our genotype and shapes our behaviour by causing us to have certain genes.
Our genes then affect behaviour by controlling processes in the brain.