Biological Approach (APPROACHES 2/6)

Question 1

key assumptions

Answer 1

how think, feel and behaviour in terms of physical factors within body e.g. hormones, genetics, evolution, NS
nervous system (brain structure and neurochemistry)
genetics
brain main focus - mind as result of biological structures and processes
behaviour due to biology, can be modified using drugs
experimental evidence on animals inform about humans - share biological similarities

Question 2

genetics

Answer 2

behaviour, personality, mental illness and intelligence due to inherited characteristics
half of genes from mother, half from father
some characteristics from one gene, some from combinations
genes control physical processes

Question 3

dominant vs recessive genes

Answer 3

two of every gene (apart from X and Y chromosomes)
dominant = shows even if one copy
recessive = both genes must be recessive to show

Question 4

genotype

Answer 4

actual set of genes an individual has
genetic material given by sperm and egg

Question 5

phenotype

Answer 5

observable behavioural and physical characteristics of individual as consequence of genetics and environment

Question 6

twin studies

Answer 6

method of investigating whether psychological characteristics have genetic basis
looking at concordance rates (likelihood if one has trait, the other will too)

Question 7

monozygotic twins

Answer 7

identical
share 100% of DNA
would expect 100% concordance rates if behaviour or characteristic is genetic

Question 8

dizygotic twins

Answer 8

non-identical
share 50% of DNA - like regular siblings
would expect 50% concordance rates if behaviour or characteristic is genetic

Question 9

twin study example

Answer 9

Gottesman and Shields
compared MZ and DZ twins for schizophrenia
concordance rates much higher for MZ twins but not 100%, suggesting there are also environmental elements

Question 10

adoption studies

Answer 10

twins often share same environment and genes
isolate influence of genes and environment
similarities with biological parent = genetic influence
similarities with adoptive parent = environmental influence

Question 11

adoption study example

Answer 11

Heston
nature / nurture in schizophrenia
support genetic cause but environmental factors should not be ignored

Question 12

nervous system

Answer 12

nervous system
peripheral central
autonomic somatic brain spinal cord
sympathetic, parasympathetic

Question 13

CNS

Answer 13

all reactions pass through
simple, reflex actions go through spinal cord before brain processes

Question 14

somatic nervous system

Answer 14

controls muscle movement, relays info from eyes, ears and skin to CNS

Question 15

autonomic nervous system

Answer 15

controls involuntary bodily functions and regulates glands

Question 16

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 16

fight or flight response
activity increases when stressed, in danger or physically active

Question 17

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 17

relaxes body after stress or danger
helps run life-sustaining processes e.g. digestion during safety and relaxation

Question 18

frontal lobe

Answer 18

consciousness and communication
memory and attention
motor control
problem solving

Question 19

parietal lobe

Answer 19

sensory perception

Question 20

occipital lobe

Answer 20

visual processing

Question 21

temporal lobe

Answer 21

auditory processing

Question 22

study of the brain

Answer 22

scans to examine patterns of brain activity and anatomical structure

Question 23

PET scans

Answer 23

radioactive chemical showing parts of brain are active when thinking about different things

Question 24

CAT scans

Answer 24

detected damaged structures of the brain by taking images

Question 25

MRI scans

Answer 25

brain structure

Question 26

fMRI scans

Answer 26

brain function / activity

Question 27

neurochemistry

Answer 27

action of chemicals in the brain
thoughts and behaviours rely on transmission of messages

Question 28

neurotransmitters

Answer 28

chemical messengers that travel between neurones via synapses
excitatory NTs trigger nerve impulses in post-synaptic neurone and stimulate brain
inhibitory NTs limit nerve impulses in post-synaptic neurone and have calming effect on brain

Question 29

evolution

Answer 29

changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations
gradual development of different kinds of living organisms from earlier forms during the history of the earth
Charles Darwin emphasises that evolution happens by natural and sexual selection –> the process in which organisms better adapted to their environment are healthier, live longer and reproduce more frequently, passing on the genes that made them reproductively fit onto their offspring

Question 30

natural selection

Answer 30

animals with particular traits that provide them with an advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing on their adaptive traits to their offspring

Question 31

sexual selection

Answer 31

acts on ability to obtain or successfully copulate with a male
makes organisms go to extreme lengths for sex ;)
e.g. peacocks maintain elaborate tails

Question 32

biological approach strengths

Answer 32

scientific and objective methods
use brain scanning techniques e.g. PET, CT and MRI scans used to measure brain function or structure
objective measure and data, not open to interpretation
more likely to be valid and reliable data

real life applications
useful to society
knowledge of brain structures and function has enable treatment to be developed to assist people
lead to greater understanding of brain abnormality and associated behaviour
enable people to live a more normal life
highly applicable

Question 33

biological approach weaknesses

Answer 33

reductionist
only focuses on biological constructs linked to behaviour
explains behaviour through genetics / hormones
ignores environmental influences e.g. social factors and upbringing
would explain depression through inherited genes and fault neurotransmitters rather than environmental factors such as lack of support or friends
too simplistic to suggest behaviour only influence by biology
lacks validity

cause and effect
assumes behaviour is result of biological causes
treatments development may be limited
e.g. focus on drugs for depression
treatment may not be fully effective, not based on singular cause
limited applicability

nature / nurture
sees biology as only cause to behaviour and ignores environmental influence - only nature
ignores nurture or combination
difficult to separate effects
decreases validity

deterministic
assumes that genes or brain structures determine how we behave
takes away element of free will to behaviour
social responsibility