the biological approach

Question 1

what is the explanation for behaviour?

Answer 1

all behaviour has a physical cause

Question 2

how can behaviour be explained?

Answer 2

using biology
e.g. the structure and functionality of the nervous system

Question 3

what is heritability?

Answer 3

the amount of variability in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genes

Question 4

what is neurochemistry?

Answer 4

the action of chemicals in the brain

Question 5

what is a result of an imbalance in neurotransmitters?

Answer 5

mental disorder
e.g. low serotonin causing OCD

Question 6

what is the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 6

the idea that physiological characteristics such as intelligence can be inherited in the same way as that of height

Question 7

how are experiments done to test the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 7

using twin studies

Question 8

how are twin studies used?

Answer 8

to measure concordance rates
if a characteristic is genetic then we can expect all identical twins to be concordant

Question 9

what is a limitation of the biological approach?

Answer 9

the research is based of twin studies —> twins may share the same genes but can be raised in different environments —> not 100% the same —> less valid

Question 10

what is a candidate gene?

Answer 10

a gene believed to be for a particular characteristic