the biological approach

Question 1

what is the assumptions of the biological approach

Answer 1

the biological approach suggests that everything psychological is at first biological

so to fully understand human behaviour we must look to biological structures and processes within the bod, such as genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system

Question 2

why is understanding the brain structure important

Answer 2

understanding of brain structure and function can explain out thoughts and behaviour

Question 3

what is the mind from a biological perspective and how does it contrast to the cognitive approach

Answer 3

from a biological perspective, the mind lives in the brain meaning that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis

• this is in contrast to the cognitive approach for example that sees mental processes of the mind as being separate from physical brain

Question 4

what do geneticists study

Answer 4

Behaviour geneticists study whether behavioural characteristics, such as intelligence, personality, mental disorders e.t.c are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics such as height and eye colour

Question 5

what are Twin studies

Answer 5

twin studies are used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rate between pairs of twins

Question 6

`what does concordance rate between twins mean

Answer 6

• the extent which twins share the same characteristics

Question 7

why are twin studies important

Answer 7

If identical (monoztgotic) twins are found to have higher concordance rates than non - identical (dizygotic) twins 
e.g.g in musical ability, schiizophrenia 

This would suggets a genetic basis becauuse MZ twins share 100% of each other’s genes, whilst PZ twins share 50% (same as any sibling)

Question 8

what is the genotype

Answer 8

the genotype is the actual genetic make up

Question 9

what us the phenotype

Answer 9

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

Question 10

what is the genotype expression influenced by

Answer 10

the genotype expression is influenced by environmental factors e.g. identical adult twins usually looks lightly different because one has exercised more has dyed hair e.t.c

so despite having thee same genes, the way identical twins genes are expressed ( the phenotype) us different

Question 11

considering both phenotype and genotype, what would biological psychologists say influence our behaviour

Answer 11

biological psychologitsts would accept that much of human behaviour depends upon an interaction between inherited factors (nature) and the environment (nurture)

Question 12

who proposed the theory of natural selection

Answer 12

Charles Darwin proposed a theory to explain evolution of animals and plants - the theory of natural selection

Question 13

what is the main principle of natural selection

Answer 13

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

Question 14

what happens to the possessor of the advantageous gene

Answer 14

the possessor is more likely to survive,reproduce and pass on these traits

If the individual survives and does not reproduce, the traits do not remain in the gene pool

Question 15

what is neurochemistry

Answer 15

relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological funtioning