Paper 2 - Approaches In Psychology - Topic 4 - The Biological Approach Flashcards
What does the biological approach suggest about psychological phenomena?
The biological approach suggests that everything psychological is at first biological, so to fully understand human behaviour, we must look to biological structures and processes within the body
Where does the biological approach believe the mind resides?
From a biological perspective, the mind lives in the brain, meaning that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis
What is neurochemistry?
Neurochemistry refers to the action of chemicals in the brain, and much of our thought and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain
What are neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that facilitate communication between neurons in the brain structures
What is a possible cause of mental disorders according to the biological approach?
An imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain has been implicated as a possible cause of mental disorder, such as low levels of serotonin in OCD and overproduction of dopamine in schizophrenia
How are psychological characteristics inherited?
Psychological characteristics, such as intelligence, are inherited in the same way as height or eye colour
What do twin studies investigate?
Twin studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis by analysing concordance rates
What is the difference between genotype and phenotype
A person’s genotype is their actual genetic make-up, whereas phenotype is the way the genes are expressed through physical, behavioural, and psychological characteristics
What does the theory of natural selection propose?
The theory of natural selection proposes that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival and reproduction will continue in future generations
What is one strength of the biological approach?
One strength of the biological approach is that it has real-world application, particularly in the treatment of mental disorders using psychoactive drugs
What is a counterpoint to the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs?
Although antidepressants drugs are successful for many patients, they do not work for everyone, and their effects are generally considered to be mainly modest
What scientific methods does the biological approach use?
The biological approach uses scientific methods of investigation, including scanning techniques like fMRIs and EEGs, to measure physiological and neural processes
What is a limitation of the biological approach?
One limitation of the biological approach is that it is determinist, suggesting that behaviour is governed by internal, genetic causes over which we have no control
What do critics like Karl Popper argue about natural selection?
Critics like Karl Popper argue that it is not possible to falsify the theory of natural selection, as we cannot show evaluation happening directly
