The Biological Approach

Question 1

How does the biologial approach explain behaviour

Answer 1

It provides biological explinations for all aspects of psychological functioning

Question 2

What are the three aspects of the biological approach

Answer 2

Genes, Neurotransmitters/Hormones and Brain Structure

Question 3

What is the nature nurture debate and how does it apply to the biological approach

Answer 3

Genes carry the instructions for a particular characteristic but how this characteristic develops depends partly on the interaction of the gene with other genes. The extent to which these genes or the environment determines our behaviour is called the nature nurture debate

Question 4

What is genotype

Answer 4

The genetic code that is written in the DNA’s individual cells

Question 5

What is phenotype

Answer 5

The physical appearance that results from inherited genes

Question 6

What is important to note in the relationship between genotype and phenotype

Answer 6

There is not a direct relationship between genotype and phenotype but this is not always the case, for example in the case of eyecolour someone may recieve a recessive gene for blue eyes but this will not be expressed if they have also inherited a dominant gene for brown. In this case we cannot determine genotype by observing phenotype

Question 7

What is heritability

Answer 7

This refers to the amount of variability in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genetic differences between individuals within that population, for example studies of identical twins has suggested that variation in individual intelligence could be 60% to 80% due to genes

Question 8

What is genetic variability of individual intelligence

Answer 8

60% to 80%

Question 9

What are some examples of biological structures

Answer 9

The Nervous System

Question 10

What is the nervous system

Answer 10

The nervous system is comprised of several connected systems, the central nervous system comprises of the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system comprises of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Messages are carried using neurons in the form of electrical signals

Question 11

What are excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 11

Neurotransmitters which trigger nerve impulses

Question 12

What are Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 12

Neurotransmitters which inhibit nerve impulses

Question 13

What is an example of an excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 13

Dopamine - Excitatory
Serotonin - Inhibitory

Question 14

What is evidence that inhibitory neurotransmitters help us maintain our mood

Answer 14

Crockett et al found low levels of serotonin tend to result in increased aggression

Question 15

Who found that low levels of serotonin leads to more aggression

Answer 15

Crockett et al

Question 16

What are hormones

Answer 16

Chemicals produced by our various glands, which together form the endocrine system

Question 17

What can hormones do once they enter the bloodstream

Answer 17

Cause a physiological reaction in a cell, altering its activity

Question 18

What is an example of hormones affecting behaviour

Answer 18

Carre et al studied the Canadian ice hockey team over the course of a season and found evidence of a surge in testosterone levels whenever the team played at the home stadium, suggesting hormones energize players to defend their home territory

Question 19

How is scientificness a strength of the biological approach (eval)

Answer 19

It uses the experimental method as it’s main method of investigation, with experiments taking place in highly controlled conditions so they are replicable. Sophisticated imaging and recording techniques can be used to increase precision and objectivity of scientific research

Question 20

Why has the biological approach been criticised for being reductionist (eval)

Answer 20

It believes that complex behaviours can be broken down into the actions of genes and neurotransmitters without looking at cogntivie factors. Explinations of mental disorders are highly reductionist as they ignore cognitive factors. While this lends itself to scientific investigation, we cannot understand behaviours without fully looking into cognitive and cultural factors

Question 21

Why has the biological approach been criticised for its reliance on evolution based explinations (eval)

Answer 21

Critics claim that many established patterns of human behaviour have purely cultural origins with no obvious survival value, such as in China or India where the sex ratio at birth is strongly biased towards males. This preference for sons results in abortions of withholding of resurces from daughters

Question 22

What is a difference between biological based behaviours and those established by cultural evolution

Answer 22

Those shaped by cultural evolution can change rapidly, for example in China where the rapid change possible through cultural evolution has begun to change public attitude towards girls and the cultural preference for sons.

Question 23

Why is the claim of a genetic basis for behaviours problematic

Answer 23

A genetic basis for criminal behaviours has led to concerns about screeing of the population to identify those with a genetic susceptibility and subsequent discrimination against those with a predisposition. It could also be used as an explination for complicated behaviours such as criminality which are rarely so straightforward

Question 24

What could a possible positive consequence of mass screening of the population due to the biological approach

Answer 24

If individuals are found to have a genetic predisposition for criminality or mental disorders such as Sz, this gives them the ability to avoid environmental situations which would trigger this disposition or develop coping skills that would protect them from the influence