Biological Approach (approaches)

Question 1

What do biological psychologists argue about human behaviour

Answer 1

The biological approach suggests that everything psychological is first biological

Question 2

Genetic explanation- what are genes

Answer 2

The genetic information carried in DNA in chromosomes found in the nucleus of the cell and are passed on through generations of species

Question 3

Genetic explanation - how do genes affect behaviour

Answer 3

Whether behavioural characteristics are inherited in the same ways as physical characteristics
E.g. eye colour

Question 4

Genetic explanation - can you inherit a behaviour

Answer 4

Absolutely not
We cannot inherit a behaviour only the gene that carries it which gives them a predisposition to certain behaviours

Question 5

Genetic explanation - how do we study the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 5

• twin studies
• concordance rates in twin studies
• E.g. the concordance rate of addictive gambling in identical twins is 49% for males
• comparing concordance rates in MZ twins to DZ twins

Question 6

Evolutionary explanation - what is Darwin’s theory of natural selection