Biological approach

Question 1

What are the key biological influences of behaviour outlined by the biological approach?

Answer 1

• Genes: genotypes and Phenotypes
• biological structures: Neurons + the nervous system, The brain
• neurochemistry: Neurotransmitters + hormones

Question 2

What was Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in relation to the biological approach?

Answer 2

• humans undergo adaptions over time that are vital to their survival = natural selection (survival of the fittest/better adapted survive)
• animals competed for food, mates etc and those that survived the competition due to their adaptions and behaviours will go on to reproduce, so the adaptions and behaviours will be passed on through generations

Question 3

What are the influences of genes on our behaviour?

Answer 3

• hereditary: genes pass on characteristics to next generation (-) but how they develop depends on the environment (nature vs nurture) + the influence of other genes
• genotypes: written genetic make up of individual, determines personality which dictates behaviour. phenotypes: characteristics e.g eye colour. don’t have to be directly related-identical twins can have different personalities
• genetic makeup is unique: we inherit a combination of genes from both parents

Question 4

What are the influences of biological structures on our behaviour?

Answer 4

• CNS: brain + spinal cord
Peripheral NS: somantic + autonomic nervous systems
• neurons carry messages/signals around body which controls behaviours such as breathing

Question 5

What are the influences of our neurochemistry on our behaviour?

Answer 5

• chemicals called neurotransmitters are released when an impulse reaches the end of the pre-synaptic neuron, it travels across the synapse
• there are different types of neurotransmitters, some which trigger the post-synaptic neuron to send impulses, some to stop it from doing so
• the neurotransmitters that trigger the post-synaptic neuron to send impulses to stimulate the brain into action are called excitatory neurotransmitters, those that don’t + calm the brain are inhibitory neurotransmitters

Question 6

Inhibitory and Excitatory neurotransmitters + our behaviour

Answer 6

Inhibitory neurotransmitter = serotonin (stabilises our mood),
- Crockett et all found that lower levels of serotonin leads to more aggressive behaviour

Exhibitory neurotransmitter= dopamine (gives us a ‘drive’/motivation to do stuff)
- higher levels lead to more active people, potentially illness such as OCD

Question 7

Hormones + behaviour

Answer 7

• produced by the endocrine glands such as the pituitary gland in the ‘endocrine system’
• responses from brain mean hormones are released by endocrine glands into bloodstream to travel to target cells which stimulates receptors

hormone: testosterone, found to energise ice hockey players in a study - may link to the aggression in boys in Bandura’s bobo doll study (social learning theory approach)

Question 8

Evaluation of the biological approach

Answer 8

(+) gives clear predictions so has led to the developments of treatments for mental illnesses such as depression, OCD, and phobias
(+) uses the scientific method, highly controlled + replicable, accurate + valid
(-) reductionist, doesn’t consider enviromental factors (nature vs nurture) or other influences on behaviour