The Biological Approach Flashcards
How does the biologial approach explain behaviour
It provides biological explinations for all aspects of psychological functioning
What are the three aspects of the biological approach
Genes, Neurotransmitters/Hormones and Brain Structure
What is the nature nurture debate and how does it apply to the biological approach
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
What is genotype
The genetic code that is written in the DNA’s individual cells
What is phenotype
The physical appearance that results from inherited genes
What is important to note in the relationship between genotype and phenotype
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
What is heritability
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
What is genetic variability of individual intelligence
60% to 80%
What are some examples of biological structures
The Nervous System
What is the nervous system
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
What are excitatory neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters which trigger nerve impulses
What are Inhibitory neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters which inhibit nerve impulses
What is an example of an excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter
Dopamine - Excitatory
Serotonin - Inhibitory
What is evidence that inhibitory neurotransmitters help us maintain our mood
Crockett et al found low levels of serotonin tend to result in increased aggression
Who found that low levels of serotonin leads to more aggression
Crockett et al
What are hormones
Chemicals produced by our various glands, which together form the endocrine system
What can hormones do once they enter the bloodstream
Cause a physiological reaction in a cell, altering its activity
What is an example of hormones affecting behaviour
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
How is scientificness a strength of the biological approach (eval)
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
Why has the biological approach been criticised for being reductionist (eval)
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
Why has the biological approach been criticised for its reliance on evolution based explinations (eval)
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
What is a difference between biological based behaviours and those established by cultural evolution
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.
Why is the claim of a genetic basis for behaviours problematic
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
What could a possible positive consequence of mass screening of the population due to the biological approach
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
