Biological Approach

Question 1

What is in the biological approach

Answer 1

• genes
• biological structures
• neuro chemistry
• genotype and phenotype
• evolutions effect on behaviour

Question 2

What are genes

Answer 2

• what make us unique
• inherit from our parents
• influence what we are today
• determine things like eye colour, height and hair colour

Question 3

What is a genotype

Answer 3

• an individual’s genetic make up, which you get from birth. Each individual has a genotype which is unique and determines things like eye or hair colour

Question 4

What is a phenotype

Answer 4

• the combination of someone’s genotype and the environment. For instance, someone build may be determined by their genes but nutrition will also help determine this

Question 5

How is behaviour linked to genes

Answer 5

• depression
• Sz
• aggression
• unlikely these are all down to a genotype
• more likely that someone inherits the the genetic disorder and the environment around them triggers it

Question 6

Why do psychologists study twins

Answer 6

• can find whether the thing they are looking at is to do more with the genes or the environments
• look atMZ and dz twins to see who it applies to more

Question 7

What are hormones

Answer 7

Travel through the blood

- and are linked with behaviours such as aggression

Question 8

What are neurotransmitters

Answer 8

• travel via the central nervous system
• linked with behaviour
• eg serotonin and low levels are said to influence depression

Question 9

Evolutionary theory and how it relates to behaviour

Answer 9

• all animals have evolved to be the way they are because of pressure to survive and reproduce
• faster lions survived as they could run and catch pray and eat passing their genes down to their offspring
• first humans who had the larger brains were more intelligent were more likely to evolve

Question 10

Evaluation of the biological approach

Answer 10

:) scientific methods are used
:) leads to practical applications such as drug treatments for depression
:( overly simple- humans have conscious thought and aren’t just a product of our genes
:( deterministic- people may worry that their genes have more control over their lives