The Biological Approach Flashcards
What is the biological approach?
A perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function
What are genes?
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
What is biological structure?
An arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing
What is neurochemistry?
Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning
What is a genotype?
The particular set of genes a person possesses
What is a phenotype?
The way genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics
What is evolution?
The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations
What does the biological approach suggest?
Everything psychological is at first biological, so to fully understand human behaviour, we must look to biological structures and processes within the body
What does much of our thought and behaviour rely on in the brain?
Chemical transmission
What is used in chemical transmission?
Neurotransmitters
What has an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain been implicated as a possible cause of?
Mental illness
What studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis?
Twin studies
What is analysed in twin studies?
Concordance rates - the extent to which the twins share the same characteristics
If a characteristic is genetic what result would you expect in twin studies?
Monozygotic twins would be concordant
In the 19th century what theory did Darwin propose?
Natural selection
What is the main principle of the natural selection theory?
Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival will continue in future generations and be naturally selected
Evaluate the biological approach (real world application P)
One strength of the biological approach is that it has real world applications
Evaluate the biological approach (real world application E)
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.
Evaluate the biological approach (real world application L)
This means that people with depression may be able to manage their condition and live a relatively normal life
Evaluate the biological approach (not for everyone P)
Although antidepressant drugs are successful for many patients, they do not work for everyone.
Evaluate the biological approach (not for everyone E)
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’
Evaluate the biological approach (not for everyone L)
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
Evaluate the biological approach (scientific methods P)
One strength of the approach is that it uses scientific methods of investigation
Evaluate the biological approach (scientific methods E)
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.
Evaluate the biological approach (scientific methods L)
This means that much of the biological approach is based on objective and reliable data.
