The Biological Approach

Question 1

Why has the biological approach gained prominence in recent years?

Answer 1

Due to advances in technology such as the development of brain scanning techniques and increased understanding of the genetic basis of behaviour

Question 2

Define - biological approach

Answer 2

A perspective which emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body - such as inheritance and neural function

Question 3

Define - genes

Answer 3

They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA - which codes the physical features of an organism . Genes are inherited

Question 4

Define - biological structure

Answer 4

An arrangement / organisation of parts to form and organ , system , living thing

Question 5

Define - neurochemistry

Answer 5

Relates to chemicals in the brain which regulate psychological functioning

Question 6

Define - genotype

Answer 6

Particular set of genes that a person has

Question 7

Define phenotype

Answer 7

The characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

Question 8

Define evolution

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What does the biological approach suggest?

Answer 9

That everything psychological is at first biological so to fully understand human behaviour, we must look to biological structures and processes within the body

Question 10

From the biological perspective where is the mind?

Answer 10

In the brain - meaning all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately has a physical basis

Question 11

How does the biological perspective of the mind contrast to the cognitive approach?

Answer 11

The cognitive approach sees the ,metal processes of the mind being storage from the physical brain

Question 12

What does much of our thought and behaviour rely on?

Answer 12

Chemical transmission in the brain which occurs using neurotransmitters

Question 13

What does and imbalance of neuro-chemicals in the brain a cause of?

Answer 13

A possible cause of mental disorders

Question 14

What do low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin cause

Answer 14

OCD

Question 15

What does overproduction of dopamine cause?

Answer 15

Schizophrenia

Question 16

What is a persons genotype?

Answer 16

A persons actual genetic make-up

Question 17

What is the phenotype?

Answer 17

The way genes are expressed through physical , behavioural and psychological characteristics.

Question 18

What did Darwin propose the theory of ?

Answer 18

Natural selection

Question 19

What is the main theory of natural selection ?

Answer 19

Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations

Question 20

Strength - what is a real world application of the biological approach?

Answer 20

Increased understanding of neuro-chemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat serious mental disorders

Question 21

What is the example of this real world application ?

Answer 21

The biological approach has promoted the treatment of clinical depression using antidepressants

Question 22

How do antidepressants work?

Answer 22

They increase the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin at the synapses in the brain.

This means that people with depression may be able to manage their condition than be in hospital

Question 23

What is a counterpoint of antidepressants?

Answer 23

They don’t work for everyone

A recent study by Andrea Cipriani compared 21 antidepressants and found a wide vary of effectivity.

This suggests that brain chemistry alone may not account for all cases, for example depression

Question 24

What is another strength of this approach?

Answer 24

It uses scientific methods
The biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly objective methods

Question 25

What are examples of precise and objective brain scanning techniques ?

Answer 25

fMRIs and EEGs

Question 26

What do the advances in technology allow?

Answer 26

It is possible to accurately measure physiological and neural processes in ways that don’t open up to bias

Question 27

Why is this approach being determinist a weakness?

Answer 27

As it sees human behaviour as governed by internal , genetic causes - which we have no control but we have already seen that the way one’s genotype is expressed is heavily influenced by the environment

This suggests that the biological view is often too simplistic and ignored intervening effects if the environment

Question 28

Critic of Darwin’s work, Karl Popper - what did he say?

Answer 28

It’s not possible to falsify the theory of natural selection as we cannot show evolution happening but others claim that basic principles are supported by fossil records