THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH Flashcards
Outline the main assumption about the biological approach
To understand human behaviour, we must understand biological structures and physical processes
State the 3 explanations within the biological approach
- Neural explanation
- Genetic explanation
- Evolutionary explanation
Outline the 2 areas within the neural explanation
- Brain structures - areas and their functions
- Neurotransmitters - chemical messengers that regulate psychological and physical functioning
Outline the functions of the left and right hemispheres
LEFT - speech - logic - order
RIGHT - creativity - intuition - emotion
Name the 4 lobes that the brain is separated into
- frontal
- parietal
- temporal
- occipital
What is the name and function of the brains outer layer
- cerebal cortex
- responsible for higher cognitive function
State location and function of the frontal lobe
- front of brain
- logic/reasoning
- motor/movement
State location and function of the parietal lobe
- top back of brain
- processes sensory information e.g. touch
State location and function of the occipital lobe
- bottom back of brain
- processes visual information
State location and function of the temporal lobe
- sides of brain near “temples”
- processes sound and language
Outline the case of Phineas Gage as a strength of the biological approach
- Gage involved in an accident, pole damaged his frontal lobe
- physical state healed
- personality completely changed (became vulgar, rude etc)
- supports idea that areas in the brain are responsible for certain functions
- supports biological approach’s argument that biological factors shape behaviour
What is the role of subcortial regions (e.g. hypothalamus, cerebellum)
- manage automatic and survival-related functions
- motor skills
- emotional responses
- work with cerebral cortex for cohesive brain
What is the role of the cerebral cortex
- handles complex cognitive functions
- works with subcortial regions for a cohesive brain
State the 2 components within neurochemistry and outline their roles
NEUROTRANSMITTERS (CHEMICALS)
- allow body to communicate messages with itself
- imbalances lead to disorders
HORMONES
- response to brain signals
- cause physiological reactions in cells
Outline a strength of the biological approach
- neruochemistry and real life application
- understanding neurochemicals has led to the development of drugs to treat mental disorders
- for example, antidepressants have been created
- these increase serotonin levels, reducing symptoms of depression
- the biological approach has therefore helped individuals manage their conditions
Outline a limitation of the biological approach
- real application (Cipriani, 2008)
- pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants do not work for everybody
- Cipriani found that general effects from antidepressants were “modest”
- challenges biological approach, suggests that brain chemistry does not account for all cases of mental disorders
What is a gene
- segment of DNA containing instructions for building and organisms structures
- 50% from each parent
- determines physical and psychological traits
What are twin studies used to measure
- concordance rates
- to see if behaviour is inherited
- what is a concordance rate
- what is a high/low concordance rate
- likelihood of individuals having the same trait and developing the same conditions
- high (near 1) = strong genetic influence
- low (near 0) = environment most likely plays a larger role in a conditions development
What are monozygotic twins
- identical twins
- share 100% of the same DNA
- same environment (most likely)
What are dizygotic twins
- non-identical twins
- share 50% of the same DNA (e.g. normal siblings)
- same environment (most likely)
What is a genotype
Genes inherited from parents
What is a phenotype
Physical characteristics, due to genes and environmental influence
What is the evolutionary explanation
- certain traits are present in this generation, as they have helped enable our survival (e.g. attachment)
- arise due to natural selection or sexual selection
What is meant by natural selection
- revolves around survival of the fittest
- those with most suited traits will survive
What is meant by sexual selection
- revolves around reproductive success
- more attractive traits results in being more likely to reproduce and pass down the traits
Name and outline the 2 components of sexual selection
MALE COMPETITION - males competing for female
FEMALE CHOICE - she chooses whether to mate
Outline Buss’ study (1989)
- sexual selection
- in 37 cultures, found universal similarities in mate preferences
- women desired males with resources (money, house, etc to provide for children)
- males desired young, physically attractive women (e.g. fertile to provide healthy offspring)
Outline a weakness of the biological approach
- evolutionary explanation - sexual selection
- untestable hypothesis/theoretical
- determining how behaviours (e.g. mate choice) evolved is difficult to establish
- the theory could also promote sexist views/reinforce stereotypes
- limits biological approach, as behaviour could be shaped by genetic, environmental and cultural factors
Outline a limitation to the biological approach
- evolutionary explanation, incomplete explanation
- provides an incomplete explanation
- changes in human behaviour also due to cultural factors, not just sexual and natural selection
- for example, China’s higher population of boys is due to the cultural favouring of sons over daughters
- this shows that the evolutionary explanation is reductionist
