The Biological Approach

Question 1

Give the key assumption of the biological approach.

Answer 1

Behaviour is affected by GENETICS (evolution; influence to physical characteristics- phenotypes)

CNS (structure of brain; function of brain- neuroscience)

and BIOCHEMISTRY (chemicals within brain- neurotransmitters; chemicals within body- hormones)

Question 2

What is heredity?

Answer 2

The inheritance of PHYSICAL or MENTAL characteristics from one generation to the next.

Question 3

What is a genotype?

Answer 3

Configuration of dominant or recessive alleles to determine the presence of a trait/ characteristic/ disease

Question 4

What is a phenotype?

Answer 4

Physical expression of a genotype (e.g. red hair)

Question 5

Each individual is typically born with 23 pairs of ___________.

Answer 5

Chromosomes.

Question 6

What are MZ twins?

Answer 6

Monozygotic (or identical)

Question 7

What are DZ twins?

Answer 7

Dizygotic (or non- identical)

Question 8

How can comparing MZ and DZ twins give a good indication of whether something might be genetic?

Answer 8

Comparing MZ twins (who are 100% genetically similar) with DZ twins in something like the likelihood of them both having a disorder, indicates how much it might be genetic.

Question 9

What are concordance rates?

Answer 9

Shared behaviour (e.g. from twin research)

Gottesman = schizophrenia

Craddock & Jones = Bipolar depression

Walters & Kendler = anorexia nervosa

Question 10

Why, in terms of identical twins, can you decide that some behaviours could be a mix of genetics and environment?

Answer 10

If something is entirely due to genes, concordance rates would be 100% for identical twins as they share 100% of their genetics.

Question 11

Suggest how a mutation might be described as adaptive.

Answer 11

A mutation is a change in the base sequence of DNA and it can cause a new characteristic or behaviour occurring.

If this change means that survival is less likely then the gene is not passed on.

If the change means that survival is more likely then the gene is passed on when reproduction happens (and this mutation is said to have been adaptive)

Question 12

What do biological psychologists believe about intelligence and aggression?

Answer 12

They believe that these characteristics were “adaptive” from the outset and therefore became part of the evolutionary process.

Question 13

What is meant by evolution?

Answer 13

The development of organisms through adaptations and natural selection.

Question 14

What did Lea et al discover?

Answer 14

That the MAOA (warrior) gene is the genetic basic of aggressive and risk-taking behaviour and it is found in one third of men.

Question 15

Name the two biological structures involved in behaviour.

Answer 15

The endocrine system

The nervous system

Question 16

What is the nervous system?

Answer 16

It is made up of the central nervous system:

• Brain and spinal chord
• Sends messages to and from environment
• Where all the physiology of the individual is controlled.

and the peripheral nervous system:

• Sends and receives information to the CNS
• Very important in movement due to the somatic system comprising the muscles attached to the skeleton.

Question 17

What is a neurone?

Answer 17

A nerve cell which transfers information throughout the nervous system.

Question 18

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 18

The system which affects the transfer and secretion of hormones throughout the body.

Question 19

What do biological psychologists believe about hormone levels?

Answer 19

They argue that the level of a hormone can affect the behaviour of an individual.

Question 20

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 20

Chemicals within the cerebral (or brain) fluid that transmit signals.

High levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are related to schizophrenia.

Question 21

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 21

The biochemistry of the central nervous system.

Question 23

Strengths of the biological approach-

Answer 23

It adopts scientific methods for investigation using measures which are largely objective (e.g. brain scanning and biochemical levels) which differs from the behaviourist approach which argues that there is no genetic implement and only observable things are measurable scientifically.

It is one of the strongest supporters of nature in the nature- nurture debate.

Biopsychology research can result in practical applications being developed such as drugs which help the symptoms of people struggling wth psychological problems.

Question 24

Weakness of biological approach-

Answer 24

• Some of the explanations are too simplistic and do not do the complexity of human behaviour justice (reductionist).
• Often fails to acknowledge the role of environment on behaviour.