The Biological Approach

Question 1

What is the biological approach?

Answer 1

Attempts to explain behaviour in terms of different biological processes, including genes, hormones, and neurotransmitters, etc.

Question 2

What is the assumption of the biological approach?

Answer 2

All that is psychological is first biological.
Since the mind resides in the brain, all thoughts, feelings, and behaviours have a biological cause.

Question 3

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 3

The action of chemicals in the brain.
Much of our thought and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain.

Question 4

Examples of the link between neurochemistry and mental health disorders.

Answer 4

• Low serotonin is linked to OCD.
• High dopamine is linked to schizophrenia.

Question 5

What is evolution?

Answer 5

Evolution describes the changes that occur over time in inherited characteristics of a biological population. This occurs due to a process of natural selection.

Question 6

What is natural selection?

Answer 6

Only genes that are best adapted to the environment where the species live will survive, reproduce, and pass on these traits.

Question 7

What are genotypes?

Answer 7

Genotype describes a persons genetic makeup.

Question 8

What are phenotypes?

Answer 8

Phenotype describes how those genes are expressed in terms of physical, psychological, and behavioural characteristics.

Question 9

Why do biological psychologists use twin studies?

Answer 9

If siblings share genetic makeup, it enables us to see the influence of biology rather than the environment on behaviour.

Question 10

What are concordance rates?

Answer 10

The likelihood that if one twin exhibits a behavioural trait/condition, the other co-twin will exhibit the same.

Question 11

What were the concordance rates in the study on depression?

Answer 11

• 49% for monzygotic twins.
• 17% for dizygotic twins.
• 9% for ordinary twins.

Question 12

What are monozygotic twins?

Answer 12

Identical twins formed from one fertilised egg.

Question 13

What are dizygotic twins?

Answer 13

Non-identical twins formed from two fertilised eggs.

Question 14

What is the ‘criminal gene’?

Answer 14

One variant of the MAOA gene, often known as the warrior gene, leads to low MAOA activity in certain areas of the brain. This has been associated with various forms of aggressive behaviour.

Question 15

What is the benefit of biological psychologists employing highly controlled methods of investigation?

Answer 15

(eg FMRIs and EEGs)

They are objective and factual, so not open to bias or manipulation.

Question 16

How does the use of twin studies and concordance rates support the genetics theory?

Answer 16

Identical twins share the same genetic makeup. High concordance rates between twins compared to low concordance rates between ordinary siblings support the idea of genetics as a cause of behaviour.

Question 17

Give an example of the practical applications of biological psychology.

Answer 17

The use of drugs for depression and other mental illnesses.

Question 18

In what way is biological psychology reductionist and deterministic?

Answer 18

It takes the view that human behaviour is determined by internal genetic factors, over which we have no control. This ignores free will as a factor, as well as ignoring environmental and cognitive factors.

Question 19

Why is it problematic that biological psychology claims that violent criminals are controlled by the warrior gene?

Answer 19

It gives criminals the defense of saying that their genetics are to blame instead of them, and ignores that they have the free will not to commit crime.

Question 20

Why is the evolutionary theory arguably unfalsifiable?

Answer 20

It is hard to prove either that it is true or that it isn’t. Although fossils prove that evolution has taken place, behaviour and psychology from that long ago are very difficult, if not impossible, to prove.