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Psychology - Approaches > The Biological Approach > Flashcards

The Biological Approach Flashcards

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1
Q

Define the Biological Approach

A

An approach to psychology that emphasises the importance of physical bodily processes (e.g. genetic inheritance + neural function) on behaviour

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2
Q

When was the Biological Approach developed?

A

1980s

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3
Q

Why was the Biological Approach developed?

A

New advances in tech made a scientific, more biologically based approach to psychology possible

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4
Q

Who were key figures in the Biological Approach?

A
  • Darwin
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5
Q

What are the key assumptions of the Biological Approach?

A
  • All behaviour has a physiological basis (stemming from aspects such as: genetics, neurochemistry, biological structures)
  • There is a difference between genotype + phenotype, due to the importance of interaction between biology + the environment
  • Evolution can gradually change patterns of human behaviour
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6
Q

What are the three main methods used in the Biological Approach to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour?

A
  • Twin studies
  • Family studies
  • Gene mapping
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7
Q

How can twin studies be used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour?

A
  • Compare concordance rate of MZ + DZ twins
  • If behaviour is solely based on genetics, concordance rate will be 100% in MZ twins + 50% in DZ twins
  • If behaviour is solely based on environment, concordance rate could be as low as 0% between both sets of twins
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8
Q

Define concordance rate

A

Extent to which two genetically related individuals share the same behaviour, disorder or characteristics

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9
Q

Define MZ twins

A

Monozygotic Twins

  • Identical twins
  • From same egg
  • Share 100% of genes
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10
Q

Define DZ twins

A

Dizygotic Twins

  • Non-identical twins
  • From diff egg
  • Share 50% of genes
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11
Q

Give an example of how the importance of genetics has been investigated using twin studies

A

OCD

  • Miguel et al
  • Concordance rate of MZ twins: 53-57%
  • Concordance rate of DZ twins: 22-46%
  • Concluded OCD is partially caused by genetic inheritance
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12
Q

How can family studies be used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour?

A
  • Compare concordance rates of first degree + second degree relatives
  • The higher the concordance rate, the greater the influence of genes on behaviour
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13
Q

What are first degree relatives?

A
  • Relatives that share 50% of genes

- Parent, child, full sibling

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14
Q

What are second degree relatives?

A
  • Relatives that share 25% of genes

- Other relatives

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15
Q

Give an example of how family studies have been used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour

A

OCD

  • Nestadt et al
  • First degree relatives of OCD sufferers: 11.7% chance of OCD
  • Second degree relatives of OCD sufferers: 2.7% chance of OCD
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16
Q

How can gene mapping be used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour?

A

Map genes to show likelihood of certain behavioural disorders, indicating role of genes in causing these behaviours

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17
Q

What three biological aspects affect behaviour?

A
  • Genes
  • Neurochemicals
  • Biological structures
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18
Q

How is our behaviour thought to be affected by genes? .

A
  • Some characteristics (physical + psychological/behavioural) are inherited through genes, as genes code for them
  • Mutations in genes may affect behaviour by causing a disorder
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19
Q

How many genes do we have?

A

20,000 -> 25,000

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20
Q

What do genes make up?

A

Chromosomes

21
Q

How many chromosomes do we have?

A

23

22
Q

Give an example of a psychological/behavioural characteristic that may be coded by a gene

A

Intelligence

23
Q

Give an example of a gene mutation that affects behaviour by causing a disorder

A

XYY = Aggression

24
Q

Outline how characteristics are inherited through genes

A
  • One gene inherited from each parent
  • Dominant gene expressed (unless both genes recessive)
  • This expressed gene determines a characteristic, affecting behaviour
25
Q

Define neurochemistry

A

Study of chemical processes in the brain/nervous system

26
Q

How is our behaviour thought to be affected by neurochemistry?

A
  • Some behaviours are dependent on chemical transmissions of neurotransmitters in the brain
  • If there is too much or too little of certain neurotransmitters, this can affect behaviour + cause disorders
27
Q

What are the two types of neurotransmitters? What does each type do?

A
  • Excitatory = trigger + stimulate brain into action

- Inhibitory = calm + balance brain

28
Q

Where are neurotransmitters released?

A

At the end of a neurone, across synapses

29
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemicals that deliver messages - affecting behaviour

30
Q

How can biological structures affect behaviour?

A

Different parts of the brain have different roles in behaviour

  • Size/innate activity of an area can affect behaviour
  • Damage to an area can affect behaviour
31
Q

What are the three key areas of the brain? What is each responsible for?

A
  • Cerebrum (main part of brain - thinking etc)
  • Cerebellum (voluntary motor movements)
  • Medulla oblongata (automatic functions + connection to spine)
32
Q

What are the four cerebral lobes? What is each responsible for?

A
  • Frontal lobe (Speech, higher cognitive functions)
  • Temporal lobe (Processing auditory info)
  • Parietal lobe (Processing sensory info)
  • Occipital lobe (Processing visual info)
33
Q

What methods are used to investigate the role of biological structures in behaviour?

A
  • Brain scans (fMRIs, PETs, EEGs, ERPs)
  • Post mortems
  • Lesion case studies
34
Q

How can brain scans be used to investigate the basis of behaviour?

A

Brain scanning techniques include: fMRIs, PETs, EEGs, ERPs

  • fMRIs: use radio waves to measure brain activity during a task
  • PETs: creates 3D image of body + uses radioactive drug to see which areas (e.g. of brain) are active
  • EEGs: electrodes on skull cap record electrical activity of the brain
  • ERPs: statistically analyse EEG data to isolate brain activity in response to a particular event
35
Q

Give an example of brain scans being used to study behaviour

A

Raine et al

  • Examined PET scans of violent criminals
  • Found reduced activity in frontal lobe
  • This reduced activity here has become associated with aggression
36
Q

How can post mortems be used to investigate the basis of behaviour?

A

Brain analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviours during a person’s lifetime can be linked to structural abnormalities in the brain
(Usually done on person with rare disorder - e.g. HM - who is then compared to the ‘normal’ brain structure)

37
Q

How can case studies be used to investigate the basis of behaviour?

A

Case studies (detailed investigation of an individual/small group) with brain damage are compared to control group without, to determine role of certain areas in certain behaviours

38
Q

Give an example of a case study being used to investigate behaviour

A

Phineas Gage

  • Worked on US railroad in 1840s
  • Explosion, 3cm diameter metal bar through skull, damaged left frontal lobe
  • Big behavioural change: more angry + foul mouthed
  • Suggested role of frontal in lobes in personality + aggression
39
Q

Define genotype

A

Genetic code an individual possesses

40
Q

Define phenotype

A

Observable characteristics an individual possesses, due to an interaction between genotype + environment

41
Q

Define diathesis-stress model

A

Theory that behaviour is caused by…
Biological predisposition: ‘diathesis’
Environmental trigger: ‘stressor’

42
Q

Why might MZ twins have a different phenotype?

A

Despite sharing 100% of their genes, they may be affected by different environments

43
Q

Give an example of the diathesis stress model in action

A

PKU (rare genetic disorder)

  • Diathesis can be detected using a heel prick test on babies
  • If environment is changed (strict diet) baby ca develop normally
  • If they have a normal diet, this acts as a stressor + causes learning difficulties
44
Q

Who identified the process of evolution?

A

Darwin (19th C)

45
Q

Define evolution

A

Changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

46
Q

What process causes evolution to occur?

A

Natural selection
- Genes that best equip individuals for survival become more prominent in a population, because individuals with these genes have a greater chance of surviving longer (survival of the fittest) + reproducing more

47
Q

How does evolution change a species’ behaviour?

A

Changes population’s genes, therefore characteristics, therefore behaviour

48
Q

Give 2 positive evaluation points for the biological approach

A

Methodology is scientific

  • Research often takes place in highly controlled lab settings
  • Methods are often objective + respected in the scientific field (e.g. PET scans)
  • Increases the internal validity + reliability of the findings, meaning they are more respected and valuable for making nomothetic laws

Real world application

  • Many treatments have arisen due to knowledge from the Biological Approach
  • E.g. Drug treatments like SSRIs for OCD have arisen through this approaches’ investigation of neurotransmitters
  • This approach has helped the medical profession and the lives of suffering individuals
49
Q

Give 2 negative evaluation points for the Biological Approach

A

Reductionist

  • The approach reduces behaviour down to its simple biological/physiological components
  • This may be deemed ‘Biologically Reductionist’
  • The approach doesn’t consider the impact of factors such as human desire on behaviour, treating everyone as identical, made up of the same basic components
  • Therefore, the approach may be seen as less valid, ignoring some causes of behaviour

Deterministic

  • The approach suggests behaviour is governed by internal physiological causes
  • This suggests humans have no free will/control over their behaviour, it is instead pre-determined at birth by their genes, neurones + structures
  • This is pessimistic, not encouraging humans that they can make a change and dictate their own future
  • This may act as an excuse for bad behaviour which has implications for the legal system (e.g. blaming murder on an aggression gene)
  • Therefore, the deterministic nature of this approach has negative implications for the individual + wider society

Psychology - Approaches (7 decks)

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