Biological Approach

Question 1

What are the Three Basic Assumptions of the Biological Approach?

Answer 1

• Human behaviour can be explained by biological factors such as hormones, genetics, evolution, and the nervous system.
• Unwanted behaviour could be modified or removed using biological treatments.
• Experimental research with animals can inform us about human behaviour.

Question 2

What is the significance of genetics in explaining behaviour?

Answer 2

Genetics is crucial for understanding unique traits and the development of the brain, which influences behaviour.

Question 3

What does Darwin’s theory of evolution suggest about survival and reproduction?

Answer 3

Individuals better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes.

Question 4

Define ‘genotype’ and ‘phenotype’.

Answer 4

• Genotype: the genes a person has.
• Phenotype: the characteristics produced by those genes.

Question 5

How can faulty genes affect psychological health?

Answer 5

Faulty genes can lead to diseases with psychological effects, such as Huntington’s disease.

Question 6

What are psychological traits that genetics can explain?

Answer 6

• Gender behaviour
• Intelligence
• Personality
• Sexual orientation

Question 7

What research methods are useful for studying the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 7

• Twin studies
• Adoption studies

Question 8

What did Gottesman’s meta-analysis reveal about schizophrenia in identical twins?

Answer 8

Identical twins had a 48% chance of developing schizophrenia if one twin was affected.

Question 9

What is the conclusion from the results of Gottesman’s meta-analysis?

Answer 9

Schizophrenia has a strong genetic basis.

Question 10

What were the findings of Heston’s adoption study regarding schizophrenia?

Answer 10

5 out of 47 adopted children whose biological mothers had schizophrenia became schizophrenic compared to 0 in the control group.

Question 11

What does the term ‘ecological validity’ refer to in the context of research?

Answer 11

The extent to which findings can be generalized to real-world settings.

Question 12

True or False: Identical twins share 100% of their genes.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

Fill in the blank: The biological model assumes behaviour can be determined by _______.

Answer 13

genetics

Question 14

What are potential limitations of interview data in studies?

Answer 14

Data can be unreliable and affected by social desirability bias.

Question 15

What are some examples of behaviours that may have evolved for survival advantages?

Answer 15

• Phobias
• Aggression

Question 16

What role do genes play in mental illness and addictions?

Answer 16

Certain genes can make individuals more likely to develop mental illness or addictions.

Question 17

What is the role of experimental research in understanding human behaviour according to the biological approach?

Answer 17

It can inform us about biological influences on behaviour.

Question 18

What are the techniques used to investigate brain structure and function?

Answer 18

• PET scans
• CAT scans
• MRI scans
• Functional MRI scans
• SQUID magnetometry

These techniques help link brain activity to behaviors.

Question 19

What did the case study of Phineas Gage demonstrate?

Answer 19

Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to changes in behavior such as increased impulsivity and aggression.

This case study highlights the relationship between specific brain areas and personality changes.

Question 20

What is the primary limitation of case studies in brain research?

Answer 20

They are not representative of the population, which leads to problems with generalizing results.

Question 21

What is the function of PET scans?

Answer 21

They show which parts of the brain are active during different tasks.

Question 22

What findings were observed in the study by Maguire et al (2000) regarding taxi drivers?

Answer 22

The right posterior hippocampus was significantly larger in taxi drivers compared to a control group.

Question 23

Fill in the blank: The _______ is responsible for storing a spatial representation of the environment.

Answer 23

hippocampus

Question 24

What does functional MRI scans provide?

Answer 24

Both structural and functional information about the brain.

Question 25

Which brain structures are suggested to be involved in aggression according to Bard and Mountcastle (1948)?

Answer 25

• Hypothalamus
• Amygdala

Question 26

What is neurochemistry concerned with?

Answer 26

The nervous system and neurotransmitters.

Question 27

True or False: An increased level of dopamine is linked to schizophrenia.

Answer 27

True

Question 28

What is one strength of the biological approach in psychology?

Answer 28

It can provide evidence to support or disprove a theory.

Question 29

What is one weakness of the biological approach?

Answer 29

It does not take into account environmental influences on behavior.

Question 30

What was the sample size in the Maguire et al (2000) study?

Answer 30

16 licensed male London taxi drivers.

Question 31

What relationship did Szeszko et al (1995) find in their research?

Answer 31

Differences in the prefrontal cortex between people with and without schizophrenia.

Question 32

Fill in the blank: Lesioning areas of the brains of cats led to changes in levels of _______.

Answer 32

aggression

Question 33

What impact can biological treatments have according to the strengths of the biological approach?

Answer 33

They can help individuals with mental health problems or unwanted behaviors.

Question 34

What does the biological approach suggest about the influence of childhood experiences on behavior?

Answer 34

It does not consider them important factors.

Question 35

What is the significance of the right posterior hippocampus size in taxi drivers?

Answer 35

It increases with the length of time they have been working as taxi drivers.

Question 36

What is the main focus of studies using CAT scans?

Answer 36

Detecting damaged parts of the brain, tumors, and blood clots.