outline and evaluate the biological approach in psychology

Question 1

outline

Answer 1

behaviour due to internal bodily functions. 4 main biological elements: genetics, biological structures, neurochem and evolution

twin studies have been used as strong evidence for genetic cause for anorexia - holland found MZ twins had a higher chance of developing ana due to higher genetic similarity, 56% MZ, 5% DZ

shows phenotypes important as concordance rate not 100%.

bio structure - brain scans used to investigate brain damage as cause for human behaviour
- using correlation analysis, differences between brain scans of normal ppts and those w mental disorder suggest behaviour associated with disorder caused by abnormal brain structures

e.g patients with schiz have 20% larger ventricles > delusions and hallucinations

argued that evolution plays role in explaining human behaviour
- natural selection
- aids reproduction so offspring inherit these characteristics, making them genetically programmed

Question 2

strength

Answer 2

scientific

when an approach is based on scientific and objective measures that are controlled and allow for replication

E.g. the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly scientific methods including scanning techniques (MRIS’s, EEG’s), twin studies and genetic testing

This suggests that as it is possible to accurately measure biological and neural processes in ways not open to bias, the foundations of the approach must be reliable

Question 3

strength 2

Answer 3

Real life application

Which is when the principles of an approach are put into practice outside the laboratory

E.g. is psychoactive drugs which can be used to treat serious health disorders including depression, OCD and anxiety, helping patients manage their conditions

The success of these treatments and how patients can lie a relatively normal life adds credibility to the biological approach and assumptions

Question 4

limit 1

Answer 4

Difficult to establish cause and effect

Which is when a method doesn’t allow for a casual relationship to be established between the IV and DV, decreasing internal validity

E.g. support for the role of neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin) in mental illness (e.g. depression) comes from studies that show that anti-depressants change the levels of neurotransmitters and therefore reduce depressive symptoms. It is therefore assumed that the neurotransmitter is the cause

This is a limitation as the biological approach is claiming to have discovered causes where only an associated exists.

Question 5

limit 2

Answer 5

Biologically determinist

This is when an approach suggests that behaviour is caused by external biological factors and only these factors shape behaviour

E.g. it states that all human behaviour is caused by genetics, brain structure, neurochemistry and evolution which we cannot control, however, this is at odds with the legal system which sees offenders as responsible for their own actions

Therefore this causes us to question the validity of the biological approach as an explanation for human behaviour