The Biological Approach Flashcards
Assumption: The biological approach believes everything psychological is……….
At first biological
Assumption: to understand human behaviour we have to………………
Look at biological structures and processes within the body
Assumption: the mind lives……..
In the brain
Assumption: all thoughts, feelings and cognitions have a…………
Biological basis
What do behaviour geneticists study?
Wether behavioural characteristics are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics
What do behaviour geneticists want to discover?
Whether certain behaviours have a genetic basis
How can behaviour geneticists discover whether certain behaviours have a genetic basis?
Twin studies
Using twin studies what is compared?
Concordance rates
What type of twins are monozygotic twins and how much DNA do they share?
Identical twins share 100% of DNA
What type of twins are dizygotic twins and how much DNA do they share?
Non-identical twins share 50% of DNA
If a behaviour has a genetic basis would identical twins have higher or lower concordance rates?
Higher
what is a concordance rate?
The likelihood that if one twin has a certain behaviour then the other will too
What is a genotype?
A persons actual genetic makeup - the genetic code in the cells
What is a phenotype?
The way the genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics
What does the phenotype depend upon?
The genotype but it can also be influenced by environmental factors
What is the expression of a genotype influenced by?
Environment
What would many biological psychologists accept about human behaviour?
That much of our human behaviour depends upon interaction between inherited factors and the environment
What is phenylketonuria?
A rare genetic disorder
How does natural selection occur?
Because it gives the possessor advantages
Why did human memory evolve?
Because it provided advanatages
What did Bowlby argue about attachment?
That attachment to a primary caregiver is adaptive
Evaluation: scientific methods of investigation
- scanning techniques such as fMRIs and EEGs
- family and twin studies
- drug trials
Evaluation: real-life application
Understanding of biochemical processes has led to development of psychoactive drugs e.g. depression drugs
Evaluation: casual conclusions
Explanations for mental illness: action of neurotransmitters in the brain
Evidence from studies shows a particular drug reduces symptoms of a mental disorder
Evaluation: determinist
Sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control
