Lesson 5

Question 1

What are some key points about the biological approach?

Answer 1

• everything psychological is first biological.
• to full understand human behaviour we must look at biological structures and processes.
• biological approach states the mind lives in the brain.
• chemical processes in the brain are responsible for psychological functioning
• humans have biologically evolved but still share common features with animals.

Question 2

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 2

It refers to the action of chemicals within the brain.

Question 3

What do our thoughts and behaviors rely on?

Answer 3

They rely on chemical transmission to the brain. This occurs using neurotransmitters.

Question 4

What can imbalances represent?

Answer 4

An imbalance in the brain has been implicated as a possible cause of mental disorder eg low levels of serotonin and high levels of dopamine.

Question 5

What is the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 5

• Behavior geneticists study whether behavioral characteristics eg intelligence, personality, mental disorder are inherited in the same way as physical traits such as height or eye color.
• Twin studies are used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates (the extent to which both twins share the same characteristics.)
• if identical monozygotic twins are found with a higher concordance rate than non - identical twins (dizygotic) twins eg for music ability, schizophrenia etc. - suggests there is a genetic basis.

Question 6

What is the difference between identical twins and fraternal twins?

Answer 6

identical twins
develop from same egg and sperm
same sex

fraternal twins
develop from 2 sets of egg and sperm
same sex or one of each

Question 7

What is the genotype and phenotype?

Answer 7

Genotype is the particular set of genes a person possesses - their actual genetic makeup.
phenotype is the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment. it is the way physical, behavioural, and psychological characteristics are expressed and this is influenced by the environmental factors.
many biological psychologists accept human behavior depends upon the interaction between inherited factors nature and the environment nurture.

Question 8

Phenotype is the combined effect of…

Answer 8

inheritance and environment

Question 9

What are some key points about evolution and behaviour?

Answer 9

• Charles darwin we adapt to or environment through biological evolution
• the theory of natural selection states some of the variation we have in our physical characteristics and behaviours within our species is inherited
• we compete with each other for resources such as mates and food etc.
  survivors of this go on to reproduce and tend to have behaviours that increase the likelihood of survival and reproductive success than non survivors.
  These behaviours will then be passed down generations and the behaviours of those offspring will have more survival and reproductive success.

Question 10

scientific methods of investigation - strength

Answer 10

• one strength of the biological approach is that it uses scientific and experimental methods for investigating the effects on human behaviour.
• these include scanning techniques such as fMRI, EEGs, family and twin studies and drug trials.
  experimental methods allows researchers to conduct studies in controlled environments which allow researchers to replicate findings to gain similar results. The advances in technology allows scientists to measure internal biological and neural processes which are not open to bias.
  therefore the approach is based on reliable data and gives psychology scientific credibility.

Question 11

cannot separate nature and nurture

Answer 11

• limitation is the supporting research from twin studies cannot easily distinguish the impact of nature and nurture.
• for eg evidence from twin studies assume the difference in concordance rates between MZ and DZ twins are soley down to genetics.
• problem - confounding variable - similair environmental conditions they share. this means that the findings could just as easily be interpreted as supporting nurture rather than nature.
• therefore, this makes it difficult to understand the sole influence of nature and nurture on human behaviour.

Question 12

real world application - strength

Answer 12

• strength - real life application
• inc understanding of biochemical processes has led to the development of antidepressants that treat mental disorders, ie Prozac which is used to treat depression and OCD.
• using antidepressants has helped to increase levels of serotonin in the brain which have been associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms.
  the biological approach demonstrates that it can be used in everyday life to help assist the quality of life of patients suffering from any form of mental abnormality.

Question 13

Deterministic view - limitation

Answer 13

• limitation of the biological approach it may be deterministic.
• For eg, the assumptions of the biological approach is that some human behaviors are governed by internal and biological causes which we do not have any control over.
• this has wider implications for people who deal with mental disorders like depression and anxiety. They may feel hopeless, as if there is nothing they can do about their disorders when in fact it is more complex than that, and there are a number of different therapies that may help them.
• therefore, there are a number of factors which affect individuals behaviour and cannot be explained by just one factor, like biology.