The Biological Approach

Question 1

What does the biological approach focus on?

Answer 1

Combining biology & psychology to explain thoughts, feelings & behaviour in terms of physical factors.

Question 2

What are the main assumptions for the biological approach?

Answer 2

-Human behaviour is influenced by genetics & the environment.
-Genes affect behaviour; genotype and phenotype which influence individual differences between people.
-Brain infections can play a role in mental illness.

Question 3

Psychologists are determined to provide evidence for the ________ in which ________/________ are a product of ________ (genes).

Answer 3

Extent, behaviours, characteristics, inheritance.

Question 4

What do genes carry?

Answer 4

Instructions for characteristics (e.g. IQ, personality).

Question 5

What is a factor that affects gene development?

Answer 5

Environmental factors.

Question 6

What is heritability?

Answer 6

The proprtion of variation in a trait amongst individuals that can be attributed to genetics.

Question 7

The ________ a trait is influenced by ________ factors, the ________ the heritability.

Answer 7

More, genetic, greater.

Question 8

Can genetics influence the risk of mental illnesses?

Answer 8

Yes.

Question 9

What did Francis Galton say in 1869?

Answer 9

‘All natural abilities are inherited.’

Question 10

How did Francis Coulton develop on his quote in 1869?

Answer 10

He said that any resemblance between family relatives could be a result of genes AND a shared environment.

Question 11

Is there a suggestion of biological predisposition to addiction?

Answer 11

Yes.

Question 12

What is disposition?

Answer 12

A genetic vulnerability to a characteristic (although the environment influences whether this behaviour is performed).

Question 13

What is an example of predisposition?

Answer 13

One could be predisposed to be addicted to gambling (but moves to a country where gambling is illegal).

Question 14

What is the scientific term for identical twins?

Answer 14

Monozygotic.

Question 15

What is the scientific term for non-identical twins?

Answer 15

Dizygotic.

Question 16

Identical twins (monozygotic) share ___% of their genes.
[EXPECTED]

Answer 16

100%.

Question 17

Non-identical twins (dizygotic) share ___% of their genes.
[EXPECTED]

Answer 17

50%.

Question 18

If one identical twin develops schizophrenia, the concordance rate is ___%.

What does this suggest?

Answer 18

48%.

There is a strong genetic explanation, although it can’t be the only factor (e.g. stressful life event).

Question 19

If genes are the only factor, the concordance rate is expected to be ___% (but it never is).

Answer 19

100%.

Question 20

What is concordance rate?

Answer 20

The extent in which twins share similar traits/characteristics.

Question 21

How can the brain be destroyed/damaged?

Answer 21

Injury, tumours and strokes.

Question 22

What can brain destruction/damage result in?

Answer 22

Behavioural changes.

Question 23

What is I and what does it control?

Answer 23

Frontal lobe: thinking, memory, behaviour and movement.

Question 24

What is II and what does it control?

Answer 24

Parietal lobe: language and touch.

Question 25

What is III and what does it control?

Answer 25

Temporal lobe: hearing, learning and feelings.

Question 26

What is IV and what does it control?

Answer 26

Occipital lobe: sight.

Question 27

What is V and what does it control?

Answer 27

Brain stem: breathing, heart rate and temperature.

Question 28

What is VI and what does it control?

Answer 28

Cerebellum: balance and co-ordination.

Question 29

What are ‘higher order’ functions?

Answer 29

Thinking and language.

Question 30

What happened to Phineas Gage?

Answer 30

He survived an accident in which a large iron rod went through his brain. His personality changed from being sociable to hostile.

Question 31

Neurotransmitters:
-________ levels can lead to symptoms of ________ ________.
-Depression is linked to ________ ________ of ________.
-Schizophrenia is linked with ________ ________ of ________.
-Neurotransmitter ________ can be determined ________.

Answer 31

Neurotransmitters:
-Abnormal, mental illness.
-low levels, serotonin.
-high levels, dopamine.
-levels, genetically.

Question 32

Endocrine System:
-Hormones are ________ substances that help to regulate ________ in the body.
-Hormones are ________ by glands and travel to their target organs through the ________.
-Hormones cause a ________ reaction in the target cells and ________ their activity.

Answer 32

Endocrine System:
-chemical, processes.
-secreted, bloodstream.
-psychological, alter.

Question 33

High levels of testosterone/oestrogen leads to…

Answer 33

… higher sex drive, aggression.

Question 34

High levels of adrenaline leads to…

Answer 34

… stress, arousal.

Question 35

High levels of endorphins leads to…

Answer 35

… happiness, sexual pleasure.

Question 36

What are genes?

Answer 36

The basic units of heredity. They function in pairs, and the recombination of genes from parents to offspring provides the basis for genetic variability.

Question 37

What is heredity?

Answer 37

The passing on of characteristics.

Question 38

How do genes carry information?

Answer 38

In the form of DNA.

Question 39

What is genotype?

Answer 39

The genetic make up one has (written in our cells’ DNA).

Question 40

What is phenotype?

Answer 40

The way genes are expressed through physical characteristics (influenced by environment).

Question 41

Genotype + Environment =

Answer 41

Phenotype.

Question 42

What is evolution?

Answer 42

The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.

Question 43

What were Darwin’s two concepts in evolutionary theory?

Answer 43

-Natural selection.
-Sexual selection.

Question 44

What is natural selection?

Answer 44

Where desirable behaviours that help in survival and reproduction continue to further generations.

Question 45

What is natural selection also referred as?

Answer 45

Survival of the fittest.

Question 46

What are strengths of the biological approach?

Answer 46

-Scientific, Objective Approach: suggests that cause-and-effect of biology of behaviour can be found (e.g. brain scans).
-Practical Application (e.g. SSRIs for OCD).

Question 47

What are weaknesses of the biological approach?

Answer 47

-Reductionist: behaviour reduced to physical processes (neurotransmitters) - OCD caused by serotonin levels, failing to acknowledge role of environment.
-Deterministic: ignores free will, implying that we can’t choose how we behave.