The biological approach

Question 1

what is the biological approach?

Answer 1

views humans as biological organisms and so provide biological explanations for all aspects of psychological functioning

Question 1

Describe the influence of genes on behaviour?

Answer 1

heredity characteristics are passed on through genes and this is why offspring ‘take after’ their parents in terms of psychological characteristics (i.e intelligence)
Gene = part of a chromosome of an organism that carries information in the form of DNA

Question 2

Describe the influence of genotype and phenotype in the biological approach

Answer 2

genotype refers to the genetic make up of an individual
phenotype refers to the observable characteristics of an individual which is a consequence of the interaction of genotype and the environment

Question 3

Describe the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 3

each individual possesses a unique combination of genetic instructions therefore we differ from one another in terms of personality,intelligence and abilities and so on

Question 4

Discuss the influence of biological structures on behaviour

Answer 4

neurons and the nervous system
nervous system is comprised of a series of connected systems
the nervous system carries messages from one part of the body to another using neurons
many aspects of human behaviour are under neuronal control such as breathing, eating and sexual behaviour

Question 5

Describe the influence of neurotransmitters on behaviour

Answer 5

Neurotransmitters such as dopamine is an excitatory neurotransmitter associated with our ‘drive’ or motivation
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood stabilising
Crockets found that in 2008 people with low serotonin levels are more likely to show aggression

Question 6

How does natural selection and evolution link to the biological approach

Answer 6

evolution refers to the change over successive generations of the genetic make up of a particular population. The proposition is that genetic make up is changeable rather than fixed the change is likely a result of natural selection
Natural selection - the process by which inherited characteristics enhance an individual’s reproductive success and are passed down to the next population and become more widespread