the biological approach Flashcards
biological approach definition
a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function
genes definition
make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes for the physical features of an organism (such as eye colour and height) and psychological features (such as metal disorder and intelligence) genes are transmitted from parents to offspring (inherited)
biological structures definition
an arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing
neurochemistry definition
relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning
genotype definition
the particular set of genes a person posses
phenotype definition
the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment
evolution definition
the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations
assumptions of the biological approach
everything psychology is at first biological, so to fully understand human behaviour, we must first look to biological structures and processes within the body
biological perspective of the mind
the mind lives in the brain, meaning all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis
biological perspective of the mind compared to cognitive
contrast as the cognitive approach sees metal processes of the mind as being separate from the physical brain
neurochemistry
action of chemicals in the brain
neurochemical basis of behvaiour
much of our thought and behvaiour relies on chemical transmission in the brain. this occurs using neurotransmitters
what can an imbalance of neurochmeicals in the brain cause
mental disorder, such as low levels of neurotransmitter serotonin in OCD and overproduction of dopamine in schizophrenia
inheritance of psychological characteristics
psychological characteristics such as intelligence are inherited in same way as height or eye colour
what studies are used to investigate if genetic are the basis of behaviour
twin studies
how are twin studies used
used to investigate if certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis. this is achieved by analysing concordance rates (the extent to which twins share the same characteristic). if a characteristic is genetic we would expect all monzygotic twins to be concordant (as they share 100% of the same genes), this would not be true for dizygotic (who share around 50% of the same genes). environment is assumed to be constant
monozygotic twins
identical - 100% of same genes
dizygotic twins
non-identical - share about 50% of same genes
genotype
genetic make-up
phenotype
the way genes are expresses through behaviour, physical and psychological characteristics
identical twins phenotype
despite having the same genes the way the genes are expressed (phenotype) is different
what does identical twins having a different phenotype show
illustrates what many biological psychologists would expect, much of human behvaiour depends upon an interaction with inherited factors (nature) and the environment (nurture)
when did Darwin propose theory of natural selection
19th century
main principle of theory of natural selection
any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations
farmer analogy of natural selection
a farmer selects the ones with desirable characteristic, for example a cow with high milk yield for further breeding so stock of cows gradually become progressively better milk producers
how does natural selection occur
naturally, the selection simply occurs because some traits give the possessor certain advantages. the processor is more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on these traits. if the individual survives but does not reproduce, the traits do not remain in the gene pool for successive generations
giraffes as Darwin’s evidence for natural selection
height gives the giraffe an advantage in obtaining food that would not be available to shorter neck rivals, this advantage means over millions of years longer-necked giraffes become more common
how might evolution be seen in humans
-memory - evolved because provided advantages
-attachment- Bowbly argued that attachment to primary caregiver is adaptive
-mental disorder - some mental disorders such as OCD have a genetic basis. psychologists argue these genes must have some simple advantage
strength of biological approach - real-world application
-increased understanding of neurochemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat serious metal disorders. for example, the biological approach has promoted treatment of clinical depression using antidepressant drugs that increase levels of neurotransmitter serotonin at synapses in the brain. such drugs have been associated with reproduction of depressive symptoms –> this mean that people with depression may be better able to manage their condition and live their lives in the community rather than remain in hospital
limitation of the biological approach - counterpoint to real-world application
-although antidepressant drugs are successful for many patients, they do not work for everyone. for example, a recent study by Ciprani et al (2018) compared effectiveness. although most drugs were more effective than placebos in comparative trails, the researchers concluded that effects of antidepressants in general were ‘mainly modest’ –> challenges the value of the biological approach because it suggests that brain chemistry alone may not account for all cases, for example depression
strength of the biological approach - scientific methods
-uses scientific methods of investigation
-in order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behvaiour, the biological approach makes us of a range of exerciser and highly objective methods. these include scanning techniques such a fMRIs and EEGs. with advances in technology, it is possible to accurately measure physiological and neural processes in ways that do not open bias –> this means that much of the biological approach is based in objective and reliable data
evaluation of the biological approach - natural selection
-critics of Darwin’s work such as Popper, claim it is not possible to falsify the theory of natural selection as we cannot show evolution happening, we can only deduce it has taken place
-however, others claim that the basic principles are supported by fossil records
limitation of the biological approach - biological determinism
-approach is determinist
-the biological approach is determinist in that it sees human behvaiour as governed by internal, genetic causes over which we have no control. However, we have already seen that the way in which and individuals genotype is expresses is heavily influenced by the environment. not even identical twins who share the same look and probably think the same. a purely genetic argument becomes problematic when we consider things such as crime. could a violent criminal, for instance, really excuse their actions by claiming their behaviour was controlled by a ‘crime gene; –> suggests that the biological view is often too simplistic and ignores the mediating effects of the environments
