The Biological Approach Flashcards
Why do psychologists study twins?
Twins are likely to have the same environment, but DZ twins only have 59% different genes. This means that twin studies reveal how genes effect concordance, which DZ twins being the control of the MZ twins.
What are hormones?
Chemicals that travel through the blood and change behaviour. Eg testosterone is linked with behaviours such as aggression.
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals that travel through the CNS. Eg serotonin is linked with depression.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the biological approach?
😊-gave psychology scientific credibility. To investigate genetic and biological basis of behaviour, scientific and precise methods are used. These include scanning techniques (e.g. fMRIs) and drug trials) which are not open to bias. This means the approach is based on reliable data.
- the biological approach has real life applications. It has led to the development of psychoactive drugs which treat disorders such as depression. Although not effective for everyone, they have revolutionised treatment for many. This means that sufferers can live a relatively normal life instead of in hospital.
😔-The approach has a deterministic view on behaviour. It explains that behaviour is a result of internal biological causes that we have no control over. However this is at odds with the legal system which sees offenders as responsible, the discovery of a criminal gene may complicate this. Such discoveries may have a negative implication for wider society as criminals are able to excuse their behaviour.
-There is difficulty in separating nature and nurture. From a biological perspective, similarity in behaviour of twins or family members is a result of genetic similarity. The fact that family members are exposed to the same environmental conditions acts as a confounding variable. This is a problem, because the results could just as easily be supported for nurture as well as nature.
What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?
A genotype is an individual’s genetic makeup, which you get from birth. However, a phenotype is the combination of someone’s genotype and the environment.
