biological approach (overview)

Question 1

what are the assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 1

• All behaviour is a result of biological mechanisms- genes, neurochemistry, brain abnormality or evolutionary processes
• All thoughts, feelings and behaviour have a physical or biological origin.

Question 2

how is the genetic basis of behaviour investigated?

Answer 2

• twin studies or genetic testing that isolates individual genes.
• Twin studies look at differences in concordance rates between MZ (who share 100% of the same genes) and DZ (who share 50% of the same genes) twins.
• If concordance rates are much greater for any given behaviour in MZ twins, then it is likely that there is a genetic basis of behaviour.

Question 3

what is a genotype?

Answer 3

a person’s actual genetic make-up

Question 4

what is a phenotype?

Answer 4

the characteristics of that individual determined by both genes and the environment.

Question 5

what is the idea about evolution and behaviour?

Answer 5

• all current behaviour has its roots in adaptive pressures faced by our ancestors (Darwin).
• any trait that increased our survival would have been naturally or sexually selected throughout evolution.
• Any behaviour that was adaptive or promoted survival (e.g. aggression, speed, strength, particular physical characteristics to help attract a mate) would have been selected and passed on.

Question 6

what are the biological structures?

Answer 6

• Neurons and the nervous system
• The Brain

Question 7

expand on the biological structure - Neurons and the nervous system

Answer 7

• The Central Nervous System (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal chord
• The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is made up of the somatic nervous system (controls voluntary movement) and autonomic nervous system (bodily responses e.g. stress).
• The nervous system carries messages around the body via neurons which transmit nerve impulses in the form of electrical signals.

Question 8

expand on the biological structure - the brain

Answer 8

• Psychologists are gradually learning more and more about which areas of the brain are involved in which behaviours.
• This is aided by: fMRI and PET scanning, Case studies of brain damaged patients

Question 9

what is the neurochemistry/neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

• When a nerve impulse reaches the end of one neuron, a chemical called a neurotransmitter is released.
• It travels from one neuron to another across a junction called a synapse.
• excitatory neurotransmitters E.g. dopamine. These neurotransmitters trigger nerve impulses in the receiving neuron (excite) and stimulate the brain into action.
• inhibitory neurotransmitters E.g. serotonin. These INHIBIT nerve impulses in order to calm the brain so each neuron is calmed or inhibited when enough serotonin is flowing.

Question 10

What are hormones?

Answer 10

• Key in homeostasis/regulation of bodily functions
• They are chemicals produced by endocrine glands (e.g. the pituitary gland, the ovaries, the testes).
• In response to a direct signal from the brain, hormones are secreted into our systems from our endocrine glands via the bloodstream.

Question 11

what are the positives of the biological approach

Answer 11

• scientific/scientific credibility
• real life application

Question 12

expand on the +ve AO3 point, scientific credibility, for the biological approach

Answer 12

• the most scientifically rigorous approach fulfilling all the criteria of the scientific approach-
• Replicable, objective, Lab based/controlled, empirical…
• The technological advances in genetic testing, brain imaging etc give it huge credibility

Question 13

expand on the +ve AO3 point, real life application, for the biological approach

Answer 13

• By isolating and investigating biological mechanisms that contribute to disorders, treatments have become available thanks to this approach.
• Anti depressants and anti-anxiety drugs have thousands of pieces of research backing up their efficacy, this lends support to the validity of the approach.

Question 14

what are the negatives of the biological approach

Answer 14

• biological determinism
• biological reductionism
• twin studies

Question 15

expand on the -ve AO3 point, biological determinism , for the biological approach

Answer 15

• it sees human behaviour as being caused by the brain, neurochemistry or genes
• case in 2007 of the man whose defence proved he had the warrior gene and his sentence was reduced to manslaughter
• This has huge implications for society and the legal system.

Question 16

expand on the -ve AO3 point, biological reductionism , for the biological approach

Answer 16

• To reduce human behaviour down to its most fundamental biology is sometimes useful in that it has enabled us to isolate specific genes implicated in behaviour or investigate cures for depression
• However, there are many more approaches to take into consideration when explaining human behaviour- and biology is only one of these

Question 17

expand on the -ve AO3 point, twin studies , for the biological approach

Answer 17

• Twin studies are not an ideal method of separating out the effects of nature and nurture.
• Whilst this approach uses twin studies to lend support to the idea that certain behaviours are genetic, actually, because twins share the same environment (nurture) we cannot prove that the behaviour exhibited is a result of genes and not learned behaviour.
• This is a huge issue in this area of Psychology- and would only be solved by investigating twins reared apart (cases are so rare, and it would be unethical to experiment).