Chapter 1: Biological Approach Assumptions

Question 1

What is the key assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 1

All behaviours can be explained at the level of functioning of our biological systems

Question 2

What are the three general ‘strands’ of the biological approach?

Answer 2

1. The physiological approach
2. The nativist approach
3. The medical model

Question 3

What is the physiological approach?

Answer 3

This approach believes that all behaviour is due to the functioning of the internal body parts - the brain, the nervous system, hormones and chemicals.

Question 4

What is the nativist approach?

Answer 4

This approach is based on the assumption that all behaviour is inherited; behaviour is passed down through genes from on generation to the next.

Question 5

What is the medical model?

Answer 5

This refers to the treatment of physiological disorders based on the same principles used to treat physical diseases. The argument is that psychological problems ultimately have a physical cause and thus can be treated using physical (medical) methods.

Question 6

What research methods are used in the biological approach?

Answer 6

Brain scans (e.g MRI or PET scans) Lab experiments (e.g double blind trials)

Question 7

What therapy is used in the biological approach, and what does it do?

Answer 7

Drug therapy, it alters neurotransmitter levels which then reduce the symptoms of mental illness

Question 8

Is drug therapy effective? Is it invasive?

Answer 8

•It is effective in reducing symptoms of mental illness •it is non invasive

Question 9

Is the biological approach nature or nurture?

Answer 9

It is purely nature (scientific)

Question 10

How scientific is the biological assumption?

Answer 10

Completely scientific

Question 11

How objective and controlled is the biological assumption research?

Answer 11

The research is strictly controlled and any objectivity is eliminated by double blind trials

Question 12

Is the biological approach reductionist or holistic, what does this mean?

Answer 12

• reductionist - it reduces a set of complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations

Question 13

Is the biological approach deterministic? What does that mean?

Answer 13

Yes, we have no control over our behaviours, they are purely the result of our biology

Question 15

Is the biological approach nomothetic or idiographic? What does this mean?

Answer 15

• nomothetic - it looks to make generalisations about people, to explain behaviour by universal laws