the biological approach Flashcards
What are the assumptions of the biological approach?
It suggests that to understand human behaviour we must look to biological structures and processes within the body, such as genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system.
What is the neurochemical basis of behaviour?
Much of our thought and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain - neurotransmitters (e.g., overproduction of dopamine is involved in schizophrenia).
How do psychologists research the genetic basis of behaviour?
Twin studies are used to determine whether certain psychological traits have a genetic basis. This is done by comparing concordance rates between twins. If MZ (monozygotic) twins show higher concordance rates than the DZ (dizygotic) twins this would suggest a genetic basis.
What are the roles of genotypes and phenotypes?
A genotype is the particular set of genes that a person posses whilst a phenotype is the way the genes are expressed in physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics - (interaction of nature and nurture).
Evaluation of the biological approach.
- Real life application
- Scientific methods of investigation
- Determinist view of behaviour
Evaluation: Real life application
Increased understanding of biochemical processes has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental illnesses (e.g., depression)
Evaluation: Scientific methods of investigation.
The biological approach uses a range of precise and highly scientific methods e.g., scans like fMRIs and EEGs, family and twins studies, and drug trials. Advances in technology makes measuring biological and neural processes accurate and unbiased.
Evaluation: Determinist view of behaviour.
It is determinist in that it sees human behaviour as governed by biological causes, over which we have no control. This suggests that the biological view is often too simplistic and ignores the mediating effects of the environment.
