The Biological Approach

Question 1

How does the biological approach explain human behaviour?

Answer 1

That it can be explained in terms of physical structures and processes in the brain and body?

Question 2

What are some examples of physical structures and processes that may explain human behaviour?

Answer 2

• Genetics.
• Neurochemistry.
• Nervous System.

Question 3

What are the three studies within the biological approach?

Answer 3

• The genetic base of behaviour.
• The influence of biological structure and neurochemistry.
• Evolution and behaviour.

Question 4

What is one way of studying the genetic basis for behaviour?

Answer 4

Through conducting twin studies and measuring concordance rates.

Question 5

What is a concordance rate?

Answer 5

How often both twins share the same characteristic.

Question 6

What is a monozygotic (MZ) twin?

Answer 6

An identical twin.

Question 7

What is a dizygotic (DZ) twin?

Answer 7

A non-identical twin.

Question 8

What does it mean if monozygotic twins have a higher concordance rate than dizygotic twins?

Answer 8

That there is a genetic basis for the characteristic because monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes whereas dizygotic twins share 50%.

Question 9

What is a person’s genotype?

Answer 9

Their actual genetic make-up.

Question 10

What is a person’s phenotype?

Answer 10

This is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics.

Question 11

What are phenotypes influenced by?

Answer 11

Environmental factors.

Question 12

What is an example of an environmental factor that may cause two identical twins to look different?

Answer 12

Level of exercise.

Question 13

What biological structures have biological psychologists studied?

Answer 13

The brain and the nervous system.

Question 14

What is ‘localisation of function’?

Answer 14

The idea that specific functions might come from specific locations in the brain.

Question 15

Where is it thought that our ‘language centre’ is located in the brain?

Answer 15

In the area known as Broca’s area.

Question 16

What does neurochemistry focus on?

Answer 16

The study of neurochemicals.

Question 17

What does the neurochemical serotonin maintain?

Answer 17

A stable mood.

Question 18

What is the main mechanism behind evolution?

Answer 18

Natural selection.

Question 19

What does the study of evolution focus on?

Answer 19

The changes in inherited characteristics over successive generations.

Question 20

What is natural selection?

Answer 20

Where individuals with favourable characteristics make them more likely to survive and reproduce, so these characteristics get passed on and become more widespread in the population.

Question 21

What are the five evaluation points for the biological approach?

Answer 21

\+ Scientific.
\+ Practical applications.
- Struggle to disentangle nature vs nurture.
- Reductionist.
- Determinist.