The Biological Approach

Question 1

What is the biological approach?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are genes?

Answer 2

They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism (such as eye colour, height) and psychological features (such as mental disorder, intelligence). Genes are transmitted from parents to offspring, inherited

Question 3

What is biological structure?

Answer 3

An arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing

Question 4

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 4

Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 5

What is a genotype?

Answer 5

The particular set of genes a person possesses

Question 6

What is a phenotype?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is evolution?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What does the biological approach suggest?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What does much of our thought and behaviour rely on in the brain?

Answer 9

Chemical transmission

Question 10

What is used in chemical transmission?

Answer 10

Neurotransmitters

Question 11

What has an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain been implicated as a possible cause of?

Answer 11

Mental illness

Question 12

What studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis?

Answer 12

Twin studies

Question 13

What is analysed in twin studies?

Answer 13

Concordance rates - the extent to which the twins share the same characteristics

Question 14

If a characteristic is genetic what result would you expect in twin studies?

Answer 14

Monozygotic twins would be concordant

Question 15

In the 19th century what theory did Darwin propose?

Answer 15

Natural selection

Question 16

What is the main principle of the natural selection theory?

Answer 16

Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival will continue in future generations and be naturally selected

Question 17

Evaluate the biological approach (real world application P)

Answer 17

One strength of the biological approach is that it has real world applications

Question 18

Evaluate the biological approach (real world application E)

Answer 18

Increased understanding of neurochemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat serious mental disorders. The biological approach has promoted the treatment of clinical depression using antidepressant drugs.

Question 19

Evaluate the biological approach (real world application L)

Answer 19

This means that people with depression may be able to manage their condition and live a relatively normal life

Question 20

Evaluate the biological approach (not for everyone P)

Answer 20

Although antidepressant drugs are successful for many patients, they do not work for everyone.

Question 21

Evaluate the biological approach (not for everyone E)

Answer 21

Cipriani et al compared 21 antidepressant drugs and found wide variations in their effectiveness. Although most of the drugs were more effective than placebos in comparative trials, the researchers concluded that the effects of antidepressants, in general, were ‘mainly modest’

Question 22

Evaluate the biological approach (not for everyone L)

Answer 22

This challenges the value of the biological approach because it suggests that brain chemistry alone may not account for all cases of, for example, depression

Question 23

Evaluate the biological approach (scientific methods P)

Answer 23

One strength of the approach is that it uses scientific methods of investigation

Question 24

Evaluate the biological approach (scientific methods E)

Answer 24

In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly objective methods. These include scanning techniques, such as fMRIs and EEGs. With advances in technology, it is possible to accurately measure physiological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias.

Question 25

Evaluate the biological approach (scientific methods L)

Answer 25

This means that much of the biological approach is based on objective and reliable data.