The Biological Approach

Question 1

What does the biological approach deal with?

Answer 1

The influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour

Question 2

What do genotype and phenotype cover?

Answer 2

The genetic basis of behaviour and evolution

Question 3

In recent years why has the biological approach gained prominence?

Answer 3

Due to advances in technology such as the development of brain scanning techniques

Question 4

Define the biological approach?

Answer 4

Perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neuro function

Question 5

Define genes?

Answer 5

They make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism (eye colour and height) and psychological features (mental disorders and intelligence)

Question 6

Where are genes transmitted from?

Answer 6

Parents to offspring (Sz for example is inherited)

Question 7

Define biological structure?

Answer 7

An arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ system or living thing

Question 8

Define neural chemistry?

Answer 8

Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

Question 9

Define genotype?

Answer 9

The particular set of genes that a person possesses

Question 10

Define phenotype?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Define evolution?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is the first biological assumption?

Answer 12

Everything psychological is at first biological, so to fully understand human behaviour we must look at biological structures and processes within the body such an genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system

Question 13

What is the second biological assumption?

Answer 13

The approach investigates how biological structures and processes within the body impacts on behaviour

Question 14

What is the third biological assumption?

Answer 14

Much of human behaviour has a physiological cause which may be genetically or environmentally altered

Question 15

What is the fourth biological assumption?

Answer 15

Genes affect behaviour and influence individual psychological differences between people. Evolutionary psychology considers genetic influences in common behaviours

Question 16

What is the fifth biological assumption?

Answer 16

Psychologists should study the brain, nervous system and other biological systems e.g hormones, chemicals acting on the brain

Question 17

What is the sixth biological assumption?

Answer 17

The mind lives in the brain (in contrast to the cognitive approach which sees mental processes of the mind as being separate from the physical brain)

Question 18

What are twin studies used for?

Answer 18

To determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates between pairs of twins

Question 19

What does it suggest if monozygotic twins are found to have higher concordance rates than non identical twins for musical ability, schizophrenia ect?

Answer 19

This would suggest a genetic basis because monozygotic twins share 100% of each others genes whereas dizygotic twins share about 50%

Question 20

What does behaviour genetics study?

Answer 20

Whether behaviour characteristics such as intelligence, personality and mental disorders are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics such as height and eye-colour

Question 21

What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?

Answer 21

Genotype= a persons actual genetic makeup 
Phenotype= the way that the genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics

Question 22

What is an example of the expression of genotype being inevitably influenced by environmental factors

Answer 22

Identical twins might look slightly different because one has exercised more or one has died their hair ect

Question 23

What would many psychologists argue?

Answer 23

That interactions with the environment does have an impact on human behaviour

Question 24

What did Charles Darwin propose in the 19th century?

Answer 24

The theory to explain evolution was natural selection (any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival will continue in future generations) - the trait gives the possessor some sort of advantage

Question 25

What is an example of an animal adapting physically in response to its environment?

Answer 25

The long neck of the giraffe - its extra height of the giraffe gave the advantage of food that would not be available to shorter rivals

Question 26

What are psychologists interested in more than physical adaptions?

Answer 26

The evolution of behaviour

Question 27

What are some examples of behaviours that are seen in humans?

Answer 27

Memory - human memory evolved due to it providing advantages
Attachment - will be argued that attachment to a primary caregiver is adaptive
Mental disorders - evidence that some mental disorders such as OCD have a genetic basis

Question 28

In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour what does the biological approach have to use?

Answer 28

A range of precise and highly scientific methods including scanning techniques such as MRI, family and twin studies and drug trials

Question 29

What do advances in technology mean that its possible to do?

Answer 29

Accurately measure biological and neuro processes in ways that are not open to bias - making it reliable

Question 30

What is the real life application of the biological approach?

Answer 30

Increased understanding of mental processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental illnesses such as depression - revolutionised treatment = sufferers able to manage condition and live a normal life

Question 31

What is the casual conclusions limitation of the biological approach?

Answer 31

Claims to support mental illness in terms of the action of neurotransmitters in the brain - evidence comes from studies showing a particular drug to reduce symptoms of a mental illness - discovering an association between two factors doesn’t mean there is one. Claims to have found cures for things were only association exists

Question 32

In what way is the biological approach determinist?

Answer 32

It sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control (ignores influence of free will on behaviour)

Question 33

What are the implications of the deterministic view for the legal system and wider society?

Answer 33

One of the rules of law is that offenders are legally and morally responsible for their actions - the discovery of the criminal gene (if there was such thing) may complicate this principle

Question 34

What does the biological approach argue due to identical twins , non-identical twins and family members having genetic similarity and what’s the problem with this?

Answer 34

Any similarities in the way that they look or behave may be genetic - important confounding variable = they are also exposed to different environmental conditions so findings can just as easily support nurture rather than nature

Question 35

What does the biological approach have difficulty accounting for?

Answer 35

The fact that DZ twins often show higher concordance rates than ordinary pairs of siblings - likely to be explained by the influence of nurture as DZ and ordinary siblings both have 50% genes in common

Question 36

What is a PET scan?

Answer 36

Shows which parts of the brain are active during different tasks - allow us to see where the brain is most active and link certain areas of the brain with certain functions
Shows average activity over 60 seconds not moment by moment

Question 37

What is a CAT scan?

Answer 37

Detect damaged parts of the brain, tumours and blood clots. Brain structure is shown - not function

Question 38

What is an MRI scan?

Answer 38

Detect small tumours and provide detailed information about structure

Question 39

What is an fMRI?

Answer 39

Provide structural and functional information

Question 40

What is a SQUID magnetometry?

Answer 40

Provides accurate images of brain activity by measuring magnetic fields generated when neurons are activated
Outside sources of magnetism can affect measurements