The biological approach

Question 1

What is the biological approach?

Answer 1

The biological approach is a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as gene inheritance and neural function.

Question 2

Why has the biological approach gained prominence in recent years?

Answer 2

In recent years the biological approach has gained prominence due to advances in technology such as the development of brain scanning techniques and increased understanding of the genetic basis of behaviour.

Question 3

According to the biological approach, how do biological and psychological concepts interact?

Answer 3

The biological approach suggests that everything psychological is at first biological. To fully understand human behaviour, one must look to biological structures and processes within the body, such as genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system.

Question 4

To fully understand human behaviour one must look to biological structures and processes within the body. What are biological structures?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What are genes?

Answer 5

Genes make up chromosomes and consist of DNA which codes the physical features of an organism and psychological features (e.g. mental disorder or intelligence). Genes are transmitted from parents to offspring.

Question 6

What is neurochemistry?

Answer 6

Neurochemistry relates to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning.

Question 7

From a biological perspective, where does the mind live?

Answer 7

From a biological perspective the mind lives in the brain. This means that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis. This is in contrast to the cognitive approach which sees mental processes of the mind as being separate from the physical brain.

Question 8

Behaviour geneticists study the genetic basis of behaviour. What does this mean?

Answer 8

Behaviour geneticists study whether behavioural characteristics, such as intelligence, are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics.

Question 9

What studies are used by behaviour geneticists to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis?

Answer 9

Twin studies are used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing the concordance rates between pairs of twins (the extent to which both twins share the same characteristic).

Question 10

How can twin studies be used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis?

Answer 10

If monozygotic twins are found to have higher concordance rates than dizygotic twins, this would suggest a genetic basis. This is because MZ twins share 100% of each other’s genes, whilst DZ twins share about 50%.

Question 11

What are monozygotic twins?

Answer 11

Identical twins

Question 12

What percentage of each other’s genes do monozygotic twins share?

Answer 12

Monozygotic twins share 100% of each other’s genes.

Question 13

What are dizygotic twins?

Answer 13

Non-identical twins

Question 14

What percentage of each other’s genes do dizygotic twins share?

Answer 14

Dizygotic twins share 50% of each other’s genes. This is the same as any siblings.

Question 15

What is a genotype?

Answer 15

A person’s genotype is their actual genetic make-up.

Question 16

What is a phenotype?

Answer 16

A person’s phenotype is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics.

Question 17

What influences the expression of a genotype?

Answer 17

The expression of a genotype is inevitably influenced by environmental factors. For example, identical twins look slightly different because one has exercised more or one has dyed their hair. Therefore, identical twins share the same genes but differ in their phenotypes. This illustrates what many biological psychologists would accept, that much of human behaviour depends upon an interaction between nature and nurture.

Question 18

Which biologist supports the theory of evolution?

Answer 18

Charles Darwin

Question 19

Which theory was proposed by Charles Darwin to support the concept of evolution?

Answer 19

In the 19th century, Charles Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection.

Question 20

What was proposed in Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

Answer 20

The main principle of this theory is that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations (i.e. be naturally selected). This selection therefore takes place naturally. 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.

Question 21

Which genetic disorder illustrates the relationship between genotype and phenotype?

Answer 21

PKU:

PKU is a rare genetic disorder that can be detected in babies using a heel prick test. If left unchecked, PKU causes severe learning difficulties in those who carry the genotype. If detected early enough, however, the child can be placed on a restricted diet and will develop normally without any complications.