Biological Approach 2

Question 1

what is the assumption of the biological approach

Answer 1

• everything psychological is at first biological
  the mind lives in the brain so all thoughts feelings and behaviour have a physical basis

Question 2

what is neurochemistry

Answer 2

the actions of chemicals in the brain

Question 3

what is the neurochemical basis of behaviour

Answer 3

• an imbalance of nuerochemicals in the brain has been implicated as a possible cause of mental disorders

Question 4

what is the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 4

• psychological characteristic (intelligence) are inherited the same way as height
• twin studies are used to investigate where certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis by analysing concordance rates

Question 5

what are concordance rates

Answer 5

• the extent to which twin studies share the same characteristics

Question 6

what do phenotype and genotypes show

Answer 6

• human behaviour is dependent upon an interaction between inherited factors and the environment

Question 7

how does evolution and behaviour link

Answer 7

• natural selection

Question 8

strengths of the biological approach

Answer 8

1. real world application
   - increased understanding of neurochemical process in the brain is associated with the use if psychoactive drugs to treat serious mental disorders
   - eg depression and antidepressants
2. scientific methods
   - scanning techniques are used to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour
   -based on reliable data

Question 9

limitations of the biological approach

Answer 9

2. biological determinism
   - sees human behavior as governed by internal genetic causes over which we have no control
   - however phenotypes show the influence of environment
   - could be used to excuse crime