The biological approach Flashcards
A01
Assumptions of biological approach
Biological approach Emphasises the importance of physical processes like genetic inheritance & neural functions
Assumptions:
Biological approach assumes all human behaviour has biological origin
Biological approach suggests everything psychological is first biological thus to understand human behaviour must look at biological structures & processes within body such as genes, nervous system, neurochemistry
A01
The neurochemical basis of behaviour
biological psychologists also recognise the role of chemicals in determining behaviour
Neurochemistry refers to actions of chemicals in brain. Our thoughts & behaviour relies on chemical transmission in brain.
neurochemicals in the brain have been implicated in role of mental illneses
e.g low levels of neurotransmitters serotonin in OCD & overproduction of dopamine in schizopherenia
A01
The genetic basis of behaviour-Twin studies
Twin studies determine likelyhood certain traits have genetic basis by comparing concordance rates between twins
(The extent to which twins share same characteristic)
* identical (MZ) twins have high concordance rate than DZ twins e.g for music ability,SZ
* McGuffin-found there was 46% chance if one identical twin had depression, the other would have it-suggeing there is a genetic component to illnesses like depression
thats cause MZ share 100% of eachothers genes while DZ share 50%
monozygotic (MZ), dizygotic (DZ)
A01
The influence of genes
Genotype vs phenotype
genes carry info in the form of DNA which carry instructions for characteristics
Genotype-gentic makeup that is fixed at birth
* Phenotype-way genes are expressed through physical,behavioural & psychological characteristics
A phenotypeis influenced by both genetic inheritance & interaction of enviroment
e.g DZ twins have same genes but diff phenotype
one genotype determines characteristics such as eye & hair colour, a p genotype will dtermine how tall they could grow but enviromental factors such as nutrition will determine whether or not they reach their maximum height
example of phenotype
identical twins(MZ) usually look slightly different because one has exercised more or one has dyed their hair so despite having same genes phenotype is expressed differently
Two people may have the same genotype but different phenotypes. This due to personal choices they’ve made to alter their appearance, such as dying their hair or due to the influence of epigenetics.
* Epigenetics is a change in gene expression, without altering an individual’s genetic
make-up.
A01
Evolution & behaviour
Darwin proposed natural selection
Natural selection ensures genetic characteristics providing an evolutionary advantage, are passed from one generation to next, whilst others which do not die out
* Biological psychologists beleive characteristics like intellgience is adapive:
* it enhances human survival- for our ancestors intelligence manifested as knowing where to find best food source, understahding weather patterns , fasioning tools
*Attachment to primary caregiver is adaptive as it increases infants chances of survival
A03
Biological approach is determinitsic
Limitation
Sees human behaviour as pre determined by genetics & biological structures- which we have no control over this is a simplistic view that ignores the effects enviroment has on development
counterpoint: however biological approaches have real world applications such as the success of drug therapies like antidepressants in treating disorders
A03
Biological approach uses scientific methods
Strength
Bio APP uses highly scientific methods, includes scanning technqiues such as FMRI & EEGs
advances in technology made it possible to measure biological & neural processes in ways not open to bias
thus bio approach has reliable data
This increases the scientific credibility of Psychology, through the strict control of extraneous &confounding variables.
A03
Twin studies cannot differentiate between the effects of nature and nurture
Limitation
- identical & non identical twins & members of same family all have genetic similarities.
- thus biological approach argues any similarities in way that they look or behave must be genetic,
however there is confounding variables- they are also exposed to same enviromental conditions
means findings can easily be interpreted as supporting nurture rather than nature
