The Biological Approach - 13/12/23 Flashcards
What is the Biological Approach?
An approach that emphasizes the importance of physical processes in the body (such as genetic inheritance and neural function)
What are genes?
They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes physical features of organism (e.g. height) and psychological features (e.g. mental disorder)
From what is genes transmitted?
From parent to offspring
What is Biological Structure?
An arrangement of parts to form an organ, system or living thing
What is Neurochemistry?
The chemicals in brain that regulate psychological functioning
What is Genotype?
The particular set of genes that a person possesses
What is Phenotype?
Characteristics of an individual determined by genes and environment
What does Evolution mean?
The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological populations over successive generations
What are the Assumptions of Biological Approach? [4]
- Everything psychological is at first biological
- By looking at biological processes and functions in body, you can fully understand human behaviour
- Studying the brain’s structure and function explains thoughts and behaviour
- The mind lives in the brain - all thoughts, feelings and behaviour has physical basis
Explain a contrast in one of the Assumptions of Biological Approach and one of the Cognitive Approach?
Biological approach sees mental processes of mind as being seperate from physical brain, in contrast to cognitive approach
What do Behaviour geneticists study?
They study whether behavioural characteristics (such as intelligence) are inherited in same way as physical characteristics like height
What does concordance mean?
The extent to which both twins share the same characteristic
What are Twin Studies used to determine?
The likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between twins
What does monozygotic twins mean?
Identical twins
What does dizygotic twins mean?
Non-identical twins
Which has higher concordance monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins?
Monozygotic twins
How much percentage does monzygotic twins share with each other?
100%
How much percentage does dizygotic twins share with each other?
50%
What does human behaviour depend upon in terms of Genotype and Phenotype?
An interaction between inherited factors (nature) and environment (nurture)
Who proposed Natural Selection?
Charles Darwin
What does Natural Selection mean?
Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations
Give an example of Natural Selection.
A farmer deciding which cow to breed - one with most desirable characteristics (most milk)
If you have a certain gene and don’t reproduce what will happen?
It won’t remain in the gene pool
Scientific methods
What is a Strength of the Biological Approach?
[3]
- The approach makes use of scientific methods
- Biological approach uses lab experiments
- This has high internal validity - you can control extraneous variables to see how IV affects DV - can make cause and effect
deterministic
What is a Limitation of the Biological Approach?
[3]
- The biological approach is deterministic
- This is because it says your behaviour is a result of your genes
- If a ‘criminal gene’ was discovered it could lead to less responsibility of the inidividuals - less impact
drugs to treat
What is a Strength of the Biological Approch?
[4]
- You can use it in development of drugs to treat mental illness
- We have better understanding of biological processes which explain mental health diseases
- This meant we can make drugs for e.g. depression, schizophrenia
- Don’t require lot of effort from patient
reductionist
What is a Limitation of Biological Approach?
[4]
- It’s reductionist
- Explains behaviour by breaking it down into genes, hormones, neurotransmitters but ignores cognitive and environmental factors
- For e.g., biological approach says OCD because of low level serotonin
- Other factors not considered
