The Biological Approach

Question 1

What does the biological approach says causes behaviour?

Answer 1

Behaviour is caused by genes and evolution.

Question 2

What is the main assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 2

‘All that is psychological is first physiological’.

Question 3

Give supporting evidence for the theory of genes influencing behaviour.

Answer 3

Gottesman and Schields conducted a twin study with schizophrenia and found concordance rates of 48% for monozygotic twins and 13% for dizygotic twins.

Question 4

What influence do biological structures have on behaviour?

Answer 4

Enlarged ventricles (fluid filled gaps) in the central brain area have been linked to negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 5

What influence does neurochemistry have on behaviour?

Answer 5

• Excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters have been shown to link to behaviour e.g. Dopamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter and has been linked to our ‘drive’.

Question 6

What influence does evolution have on behaviour?

Answer 6

Beneficial traits are bequeathed to successive generations will become more common. Aiding in the survival of the human race. E.g. Lactose intolerance was previously a behaviour of all humans however, now it is uncommon.

Question 7

Give 2 advantages of the biological approach.

Answer 7

Advantages:
- High practical validity - led to the creation of treatments e.g. SSRIs

• Accurate, reliable methodology e.g. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Electroencephalogram (EEG).

Question 8

Give 2 disadvantages of the biological approach.

Answer 8

Disadvantages;

• Findings from animal studies are difficult to extrapolate to human populations.
• Reductionism - not holistic - however, it expatiates on a certain principle - may be useful when devising treatments.