The Biological Approach Flashcards
What is the biological approach?
A combination of psychology and biology to provide psychological explanations for human behaviour
What is the nature-nurture debate?
Behavioural development depends on interaction of the gene with other genes and the environment
What is Heritability?
The amount of variation in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genetic differences
Quote to back nature-nurture argument
- “All natural abilities are inherited” - Francis Galton
- Galton later had to agree that Amy resemblance between family relatives could be a result of both genes and shared environment
What do genes carry?
Instructions for characteristics such as personality, iq etc.
What is the concordance rate between Monozygotic twins?
100%
What is the concordance rate between Dizygotic twins?
50%
Fact which supports genetics having a much greater influence on intelligence than environment (Bouchard’s twin research)?
Identical twins reared apart have a much higher concordance rate (72%) than ordinary siblings reared together (47%) suggesting that genetics have a much greater influence on intelligence than environment
Fact which supports environment having a limited effect on intelligence (Bouchard’s twin research)?
There is not a great deal of difference between the concordance rates of identical twins reared together (86%) and identical twins reared apart (72%), suggesting that environment has a limited effect on intelligence
What can destruction or degeneration of brain cells result in?
Possible behaviour changes
What does the frontal lobe take part in?
Parts of speech, reasoning, controlling facial expressions and emotions
Summarise the Cerebral Cortex
The outer layer, composed of folded grey matter and playing an important role in consciousness
It is responsible for many higher order functions such as thinking and language
Frontal lobe is responsible for…
Thinking, memory, behaviour and movement
Parietal lobe is responsible for…
Language and touch
Temporal lobe is responsible for…
Hearing, learning and feelings
Occipital lobe is responsible for…
Sight
Brain stem is responsible for…
Breathing, heart rate and temperature
Cerebellum is responsible for…
Balance and coordination
Who was Phineas Gage?
- He survived an accident in which a large iron rode went through his brain
- Although he survived his personality changed from being socialable to being hostile
How did Phineas’ behaviour change?
He became antisocial, bad mannered and had a tendency to be violent.
What is a genotype?
- The genetic make up
- The genetic code written in the DNA of our cells
Can the genotype be influenced by environmental factors?
Yes
For instance, identical adult twins often look slightly different because one has exercised more
What is a Phenotype?
- An individual’s physical appearance from the inherited genotype but involves interaction of environment.
- A phenotype is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics
Phenotype equation
Genotype + environment = phenotype
What is Monozygotic?
One zygote – these twins are formed when a fertilised cell splits into two and forms two separate embryos
What is Dizygotic?
Two zygotes – these twins are formed when two separate eggs both become fertilised by different sperm cells
What is Evolution?
The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.
What was Charles Darwin’s two main concepts?
- Natural selection
- Sexual selection
