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2. Approaches > The Biological Approach > Flashcards

The Biological Approach Flashcards

1
Q

What is the biological approach?

A

A perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function.

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2
Q

What are genes?

A

They make up chromosome 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).

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3
Q

What is genotype?

A

The particular set of genes that a person possesses.

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4
Q

What is phenotype?

A

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

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5
Q

What is evolution?

A

The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.

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6
Q

Outline the key assumptions of the approach

A
  • behaviour is influenced by genetic factors
  • behaviour is caused by electrochemical events occurring within and between the neurons that make up the nervous system, particularly those in the brain.
  • chemical imbalances in the brain are responsible for certain behaviours
  • humans have evolved through Darwin’s theory of evolution and there is behavioural continuity between species and behavioural and psychological characteristics have evolutionary explanations.
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7
Q

How many chromosomes are in the nucleus of every cell (apart from sex cells)?

A

46

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8
Q

What are chromosomes made of?

A

DNA

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9
Q

What is DNA made of?

A

Genes

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10
Q

What’s genotype?

A

Genotype is the genetic makeup of the individual I.e. The particular set of genes that the individual possesses. (What our genes are)

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11
Q

What is phenotype?

A

Phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or trusts shown by the individual. So it is the actual expression of our genotype. (What our genes look like)

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12
Q

A person’s phenotype is not only affected by genes. What else is it affected by?

A

The environment

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13
Q

What condition is an example of how our genotype can be influenced by our environment?

A

An example is the disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) which is where individuals are unable to break down phenylalanine. If PKU is not diagnosed at birth, phenylalanine cannot be broken down, this leads to brain damage and intellectual retardation.
However if a baby is diagnosed early and put on a special diet that doesn’t contain phenylalanine it will grow and develop normally without brain damage.

PKU is a clear example of how our genotype can be influenced by our environment and reminds us that neither nurture or nature on its own is sufficient to explain human behaviour.

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14
Q

What are some of the most well-researched human psychological characteristics that are thought to be influenced by genes?

A
  • intelligence
  • certain psychological disorders ( schizophrenia and mood disorders such as bipolar depression)
  • male and female differences (makes are more aggressive may be due to their genetic makeup)
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15
Q

What studies are used to compare concordance rates?

A

Twin studies

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16
Q

Why are twin studies used?

A

Twin studies are used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis

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17
Q

What is concordance?

A

Concordance is the extent as to which two people share the same characteristics.

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18
Q

What are the two types of twins?

A

Identical (monozygotic) and non-identical (dizygotic).

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19
Q

Which twins have a concordance rate and why?

A

Monozygotic twins are found to have higher concordance rates because they share 100% of each other’s genes whereas dizygotic twins only share 50%.

20
Q

We have never found 100% concordance in identical twins, what does this show?

A

It shows that environment IS an influencing factor.

21
Q

What are neurons?

A

They are nerve cells which are specialised to receive, process and/or transmit information to other cells within the body. They are the basic ‘building blocks’ of the nervous system.

22
Q

What is the central nervous system made up of?

A

The brain and spinal cord

23
Q

Explain the role of the spinal cord and the brain in the central nervous system

A

The spinal cord receives and passes message to and from the brain, and connects to nerves in their peripheral nervous system.

The brain can be subdivided into many different areas and structures which are thought to be responsible for certain behaviours. The brain relies on a large number of neurotransmitters and hormones to send signals between neurons.

Too much or too little of these chemicals can result in over/under activity in various parts of the brain, which results in changes to thinking, feelings and behaviour.

24
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system?

A

The PNS is made up of neurons that transmit messages or information to and from the central nervous system.

It has two sub systems: the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

25
Q

What does the somatic nervous system do?

A

It transmits information received by the senses to the central nervous system and sends message from the CNS to the muscles.

26
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A

It is divided into:
• the sympathetic nervous system - which increases bodily activities (in response to fight or flight)

• the parasympathetic nervous system which maintains or decreases bodily activities

27
Q

What is the main principle of Darwin’s evolution of behaviour?

A

The main principle of this theory is that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and therefore ability to reproduce) will continue in future generations.

28
Q

In nature the selection takes place ‘naturally’ - no one ‘decides’, why does the selection/ passing on of particular traits happen?

A

The selection occurs simply because some traits give the possessor certain advantages. The possessor is more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on these traits. If the individual survives but does not reproduce, the traits do not remain in the gene pool.

29
Q

Name one aspect of behaviour which has been studied extensively from an evolutionary perspective

A

Aggression

30
Q

Why can aggression be seen as an evolutionary trait?

A

The more aggressive an animal is the more resources it gains necessary for it’s survival such as territory, food and mates. So the animals who were more aggressive would survive and then ‘pass on’ this aggression to future generations.

31
Q

What is the problem regarding the role of evolution in explaining aggression?

A

Some psychologists regard the role of evolution in explaining aggression as limited, claiming no that learning and environmental influences are more important.

32
Q

What evolutionary behaviour do humans show from birth?

A

The rooting reflex

33
Q

What is the rooting reflex?

A

The rooting reflex is where babies will turn their heads towards anything that strokes/touches their their cheek or mouth. This reflex aids in breastfeeding and hence survival.

34
Q

RESEARCH METHODS

How does the biological approach study human behaviour?

A

Biopsychologists favour methods that are precise, objective and highly scientific. They carry our lab experiments on both animals and humans.

35
Q

RESEARCH METHODS

Apart from lab experiments what other methods do bio psychologists use to study behaviour?

A
  • Various types of brain scanning technology includes PET scans, fMRI’s scans and EEG’s, can be used to study the structure and functioning of the brain.
  • Using twin studies to look at the concordance rates between identical and non-identical twins to help understand the genetic basis of certain behaviours
36
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of using scientific, lab based experiments for drug trials for example?

A

STRENGTH
• High control over extraneous variables, so can therefore establish a cause and effect relationship
•Highly standardised procedure so is reliable

LIMITATIONS
• lacks ecological validity
• anthropomorphism - results yielded from a drug trial on animals can’t be generalised to humans

37
Q

What are the strengths of using scanning techniques to study the brain?

A
  • Scanning techniques have greatly increased our understanding of brain function and allow us to see which parts are active when completing certain tasks
  • they allow more natural and accurate measurements of brain activity than other techniques which are invasive
38
Q

Describe the nature nurture debate when it comes to using twin studies as evidence

A

Members of the same family all have genetic similarities. Therefore the biological approach argues that any similarities in the way they look or behave must be genetic. However, a confounding variable is that they are also exposed the similar environmental conditions. This means that findings could just as easily be interpreted as supporting nurture rather than nature.

The approach also has difficulty accounting for the fact that, in studies, DZ twins often show higher concordance rates than pairs of ordinary siblings. This is likely to be explained by the influence of nurture, as DZ’s and ordinary siblings both have about 50% (on average) genes in common.

39
Q

EVALUATION

Is the biological approach deterministic?

A

The biological approach is hard, biological determinism in the sense that it sees human behaviour as governed led by internal, biological causes over which we have no control.

This is seen as a weakness because it is saying we have no free will or control over our actions

40
Q

EVALUATION

Why does biological approach saying our behaviour is deterministic a problem for society?

A

This has implications for the legal system and wider society. One of the rules of law is that offenders are seen as legally and morally responsible for their actions. The discovery of a ‘criminal gene’, if there was such a thing, may complicate this principle.

41
Q

EVALUATION

What is a strength of the determinism?

A

The strength of determinism is that the causes of human behaviour can be predicted and controlled which gives the approach scientific credibility.

42
Q

EVALUATION

Is the biological approach reductionist?

A

The biological approach is reductionist as it believes that the complexity of human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down to its smallest component parts such as the action of neurotransmitters, genes etc.

43
Q

EVALUATION

What is a strength of the approach being reductionist?

A

It lends itself to scientific enquiry as it allows for prediction and control of human behaviour.

44
Q

EVALUATION

What is a limitation of the approach being reductionist?

A

Critics argue that we cannot fully understand a behaviour without taking account of other factors that influence it. The biological approach can often be described as taking an oversimplified view of behaviour as it ignores cognitive/social/environmental factors which has a influence on behaviour.

45
Q

EVALUATION

Describe and evaluate the real
Life application of the biological approach

A

A strength of the biological approach is that it provides clear predictions such as the effects of neurotransmitters on behaviour. This increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat mental illnesses and is the most widely used treatment.

This is a strength of the biological approach because it means that suffered are able to manage their condition and live a relatively normal life, rather than remain in hospital.

46
Q

EVALUATION

What is the limitation of the real life application of the biological approach?

A

Because of evidence from studies show that a particular drug reduces symptoms of a mental disorder it is then assumes that the neurochemical in the drug causes the disorder. This is known as treatment fallacy, because discovering the association between two factors does not mean that one is a cause.

This is a limitation because the biological approach is claiming to have discovered causes where only an association exists.

47
Q

EVALUATION

Scientific credibility and the biological approach

A

In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly scientific methods which are reliable and objective.

By emphasising the importance of scientific processes and their reliance on the scientific method, the biological approach gives psychology greater credibility and status as a science.

2. Approaches (6 decks)

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