Biological Approach

Question 1

Key assumptions

Answer 1

• everything psychological is first biological behaviour and our behaviour is caused by our biology
• genes affect our behaviour and influence individual psychological
• evolution applies to human behaviour
• psychologists should study the brain, nervous system and other biological systems

Question 2

Evolution

Answer 2

• change in the genetic makeup of a population over time

Question 3

Natural selection

Answer 3

useful characteristics are adopted by a population over time

Question 4

Gene

Answer 4

• part of a chromosome that carries information in the form of DNA
• causes a certain characteristic
• can be inherited

Question 5

Genotype

Answer 5

An organism’s genetic makeup, heavily influenced by environmental factors

Question 6

Phenotype

Answer 6

An organism’s physical appearance, or visible traits

Question 7

Heterozygous gene

Answer 7

A gene composed of two different alleles (a dominant and a recessive).

Question 8

Homozygous gene

Answer 8

A gene composed of two identical alleles

Question 9

Twin studies

Answer 9

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 then it would suggest a genetic basis

Question 10

Strengths

Answer 10

Highly scientific methods: fmris, family and twin studies and drug trials - reliable
It has real life application, led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat depression

Question 11

Weaknesses

Answer 11

Causal conclusions, discovering an association does not mean one is the cause

Determinist view, e.g. criminal gene, doesn’t acknowledge free will

Can’t separate nature and nurture, biological approach argues that similarities in the way families or twins look must be genetic but they don’t consider the confounding variable of the environment.

Question 12

Neurochemistry

Answer 12

Relating to chemicals in the grain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 13

Monozygotic

Answer 13

Share 100% of eachothers genes

Question 14

Dizygotic

Answer 14

Share about 50%

Question 15

Concordance rates in mz twins, dz twins and siblings.

Answer 15

MZ - 49%
DZ - 17%
Siblings - 9%

Question 16

What do concordance rates express ?

Answer 16

The likelihood that a trait present in one twin is found in the other twin