The Biological Approach

Question 1

Outline the main assumptions of the biological approach.

Answer 1

• combines psychology and biology to provide physiological explanations for human behaviour
• everything psychological is at first biological
• biological psychology tries to explain how we think, feel, and behave in terms of physical factors within the body
• behaviour can be explained in terms of different areas of the brain, neurotransmitters and hormones

Question 2

Define genes.

Answer 2

they make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes for the physical features of an organism and psychological features
they are transmitted from parents to offspring

Question 3

Define biological structures.

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What influence does neurochemistry have on behaviour?

Answer 4

• neurochemistry refers to the action of chemicals in the brain
• our thoughts and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain using neurotransmitters
• an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain has been suggested as a possible cause of mental disorder

Question 5

Define genotype.

Answer 5

• the particular set of genes that a person possesses

Question 6

Define phenotype.

Answer 6

the characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

Question 7

Outline the genetic basis of behaviour.

Answer 7

• twin studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis
• this is achieved using concordance rates (the extent to which twins share a characteristic)
• if the characteristic is genetic we would expect identical twins to be concordant but not for non-identical twins

Question 8

What effect does behaviour have on evolution?

Answer 8

• Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection in the 19th century
• the main principle is that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances the individuals chance of survival will be passed down to future generations
• in natural selection this takes place naturally; nobody chooses which selection occurs

Question 9

Outline the strengths of the biological approach.

Answer 9

• it is a scientific approach which allows us to find cause and effect relationships of both physiology and behaviour
• impact of biology on behaviour can lead to treatment and intervention to those suffering
• understanding how an abnormal brain works can shed light on normal brain functioning
• measurements can be objective as it can be performed by machines that have no vested interest in the outcome

Question 10

Outline the limitations of the biological approach.

Answer 10

• it is a deterministic approach as it believes that we are determined by our physiological, genetic or evolutionary make-up
• reductionist by stating that all human behaviour can be explained through biological processes and we are therefore not unique as human beings
• disregards the role the environment plays
• correlations frequently employed but you can’t determine cause and effect
• small samples make findings difficult to generalise