biological approach

Question 1

What is the biological approach overall??

Answer 1

The biological approach combines psychology and biology to provide psychological explanations for human behaviour

Question 2

What are neurochemicals

Answer 2

Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological/physiological functioning

Question 3

What are the psychologists studying the biological approach interested in?

Answer 3

They’re trying to determine and provide evidence for the extent to which behaviours, or a characteristic such as intelligence are the product of inheritance (genes), or environmental influences

Question 4

What are some of the methods for investigating the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 4

• twin studies
• family studies
• adoption studies
• selective breeding

Question 5

Describe why twin studies are an investigation of the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 5

Monozygotic (MZ) - one zygote in which twins are formed when a fertilised cell splits into two and forms two separate embryos
Dizygotic (DZ) - two zygotes in which twins are formed when two separate eggs both become fertilised by different sperm cells

Question 6

What are concordance rates

Answer 6

This refers to the extent to which a pair of twins share similar traits of characteristics

Question 7

What are family studies

Answer 7

Any resemblance between family relatives could be a result of genes

Question 8

What did Galton say and when to slightly back up family studies?

Answer 8

1869 - ‘all natural abilities are inherited’ - but he later had to agree that any resemblance between the relatives could be genes or a shared environment

Question 9

What are adoption studies

Answer 9

These studies involve comparing a trait or characteristic between adopted children and their biological or adopted parents

Question 10

What is selective breeding

Answer 10

This method involves artificially selecting male and female animals for a particular trait and then these animals are then put together in order to breed and produce offspring

Question 11

What is a factor that is inherited through genes?

Answer 11

Intelligence is an example of a study that suggests that certain behaviours are genetically determined

Question 12

What has selective breeding shown?

Answer 12

That a number of behavioural characteristics for example aggression can have a genetic basis

Question 13

What is the difference between genes and the observable characteristics (phenotype and genotype)

Answer 13

Genes only determine the potential for characteristics (genotype) whereas the observable characteristics of an individual depend on the interaction of genetic and environmental factors(phenotype)

Question 14

Quick question: Homozygous and heterozygous what genes do they entail?

Answer 14

Homo (hahaaa) - Bb (different)
Hetero (like elishka…. not for margot) - BB

Question 15

How are identical twins a good example of interaction between inheritance and environment

Answer 15

• They have the same genetic makeup and they look alike but they possess different phenotypes
• Twins are genetically the same - any differences you may see between them such as personality and tastes are due to differences in their experience of environment

Question 16

What were the two main concepts in Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory

Answer 16

• natural selection
• sexual selection

Question 17

What is natural selection

Answer 17

-Animals with particular traits that provide them will an advantage are more likely to adapt and survive and pass on those surviving characteristics to their children

Question 18

What is natural selection

Answer 18

-Animals with particular traits that provide them will an advantage are more likely to adapt and survive and pass on those surviving characteristics to their children

Question 19

What are the three principles for animals adapting to the environment

Answer 19

• the principle of diversity: the variety within a species
• the principle of interaction: which is how this variety of species adapt and fit in with the environment e.g. animals that breathe air wouldn’t be able to live underwater permanently
• the principle of differential amplification: those who adapt to their environment will reproduce and those that do not will die out

HAVE FUN LEARNING THAT- AND YES I AM MOCKING YOU THROUGH THE SCREEN :))

Question 20

What is sexual selection

Answer 20

• males have abundance of sperm and can reproduce with as many females as they wish
• females however, are limited by the amount of eggs she produces and the fact that she has to carry the baby for 9 months and then raise it until the age of 18
• females therefore will be more particular about who fathers their children due to the investment they have to make

Question 21

What are the research methods used for this approach?

Answer 21

The most common methods include laboratory experiments and observations and objective brain recording and scanning techniques are also used

Question 22

Who was Phineas Gage and when was his accident

Answer 22

1848
Rod through the head, personality changes

Question 23

What is a PET scan?

Answer 23

Positron emission tomography - shows which pattern of the brain are active during a task

Question 24

What is a CAT scan

Answer 24

Detects damaged parts of the brain, tumors and blood clots

Question 25

What is an MRI scan

Answer 25

Detects small tumors and provides detailed information about structure

Question 26

What is an fMRI scan

Answer 26

Structural and functional information

Question 27

What is a SQUID magnetometry

Answer 27

Produces accurate images of brain activity by measuring the magnetic fields generated when neurones are activated

Question 28

What is a strength of this approach to do with science

Answer 28

This method is highly scientific and so leads to reliable data

Question 29

What is a strength of this approach to do with credence

Answer 29

This approach, due to its high scientific data, gives psychology and credence and establishes it as a respectable science

Question 30

What is a strength of this approach to do with ending suffering

Answer 30

This approach can lead to treatment and intervention for those who are suffering such as anti-depressants

Question 31

What is a strength of this approach to do with learning about the brain

Answer 31

Understanding how the abnormal brain works can shed light on normal brain functionality

Question 32

What is a strength of this approach to do with machinery

Answer 32

There will be more accurate and precise measurements

Question 33

What is a limitation of this approach to do with free will

Answer 33

This approach states we have no free will, it believes we are determined by out physiological, genetic or evolutionary makeup

Question 34

How is this approach reductionist?

Answer 34

By stating that all human behaviour can be explained through biological processes and we are therefore not unique as individuals

Question 35

What is a limitation of this approach to do with environment

Answer 35

Biological approach ignores the role of the environment as it should be used in combination which is known as the biosocial approach

Question 36

What is a limitation of this approach which is to do with rare conditions

Answer 36

The conditions looked at in this research may focus on rare conditions that have little impact on the everyday lives of most people

Question 37

What is a limitation to do with complex machinery

Answer 37

the complex machinery which provides 'accurate readings' may be operated by a human and so may be subjective to human error