biological approach AO1

Question 1

how does the biological approach view people

Answer 1

biological beings with biological factors influencing behaviour

Question 2

which characteristics are biologically determined

Answer 2

intelligence, personality and mental illness

Question 3

what are genes

Answer 3

part of a chromosome that contain DNA that codes for features that are inherited from parents

Question 4

how do psychology study heredity

Answer 4

using twins

Question 5

what are monozygotic twins

Answer 5

identical sharing 100% DNA

Question 6

what are dizygotic twins

Answer 6

non identical sharing 50% DNA

Question 7

what are concordance rates

Answer 7

degree of genetic similarity for a particular trait like OC

Question 8

what is a genotype

Answer 8

particular set of genes that make up a person

Question 9

what is a phenotype

Answer 9

expression of the genotype and its interaction with the environment

Question 10

how are mental illness explained through genotype and phenotype

Answer 10

genetic predisposition and vulnerability to certain characteristics or disorders however this has to be triggered by environmental stressors eg. through the interaction of the genotype with the environment

Question 11

what is the frontal lobe responsible for

Answer 11

personality characteristics, decision making and movement

Question 12

what is the parietal lobe responsible for

Answer 12

sensory information like touch and temperature

Question 13

what is the temporal lobe responsible for

Answer 13

hearing and memory

Question 14

what is the occipital lobe responsible for

Answer 14

visual information

Question 15

how do the hemispheres control behaviour

Answer 15

left controls the right side of the body
right controls the left side of the body

Question 16

what does localisation of function mean for the biological approach

Answer 16

shows how biological structures influence behaviour

Question 17

what is neurochemistry comprised of

Answer 17

the nervous system

Question 18

how do nerves communicate

Answer 18

transmit signals electrically and chemically between one another

Question 19

what are neurotransmitters

Answer 19

chemical messengers that transmit or pass information between neurons

Question 20

what do biological psychology think about the mind and the brain

Answer 20

the mind and the brain are the same, so the chemical processes occurring in the brain are behind what is going on in the mind

Question 21

what do neurotransmitters influence

Answer 21

our mental state

Question 22

what does an imbalance in neurotransmitters cause

Answer 22

changes in behaviour

Question 23

what is an imbalance in serotonin and dopamine associated with

Answer 23

linked to depression and an imbalance in dopamine has been associated with schizophrenia

Question 24

what is evolution

Answer 24

gradual change in inherited traits of a species over many generations through adaption to the environment, natural selection and survival of the fittest

Question 25

what is survival of the fittest

Answer 25

those who possess the strongest genes will therefore survive and be able to reproduce

Question 26

what is natural selection

Answer 26

those with a genetic advantage are more likely to survive

Question 27

how is natural selection shown in bowlbys attachment theory

Answer 27

as babies form attachments for survival purposes and also tilt their heads towards anything that strokes their cheek or mouth which aids breastfeeding and therefore survival

Question 28

why can we use animal studies to explain behaviour

Answer 28

evolution suggests we share common ancestors with animals