Biological Approach

Question 1

What is the biological approach?

Answer 1

Combines psychology with biology to provide physiological explanations for human behaviour.
Internal physical factors that determine behaviour.

Question 2

Why do psychologists investigate the genetic base for behaviour?

Answer 2

Psychologists are interested in 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 3

What are genes?

Answer 3

Inherited from parents can determine IQ, behaviour, personality + neurotransmitters. Genes carry instructions for characteristics- the potential for traits.

Question 4

What is heritability?

Answer 4

Amount of variation in a trait(behaviour) within a population that can attributed to genetic differences.
-more a trait influenced by genetic factors= greater the heritability

Question 5

What are the two different types of twins?

Answer 5

Mz Identical twins- 100% shared genetic makeup. -monozygotic
Non-identical-50% shared. -dizygontic, shared womb environment.

Question 6

Why do psychologists study Mz identical twins?

Answer 6

Genes predispose us to develop particular behaviours. - shared 100% genetic makeup therefore can determine if behaviour is only down to genetics.

Question 7

What is concordance?

Answer 7

the expected trait for monozygotic twins.

Question 8

What is a study for genetics?

Answer 8

Bouchard’s twin research.

Question 9

What did Bourchard’s research suggest about genes?

Answer 9

genes influence smaller traits- eg. preferences. The case of the Jim twins.

Question 10

What is suggested about biological structures?

Answer 10

The functions of the abrin are localised.
Particular structured affect(regulate) particular behaviours.

Question 11

What are the characteristics controlled by the frontal lobe?

Answer 11

Thinking, memory, behaviour and movement.

Question 12

What are the characteristics controlled by the temporal lobe?

Answer 12

Hearing, learning and thinking.

Question 13

What are the characteristics controlled by the parietal lobe?

Answer 13

Language and touch.

Question 14

What are the characteristics controlled by the occipital lobe?

Answer 14

Sight.

Question 15

What are the characteristics controlled by the cerebellum?

Answer 15

Balance and coordination.

Question 16

What are the characteristics controlled by the brain stem?

Answer 16

Breathing, heart rate and temperature.

Question 17

What is the case of Phineas Gage and what did it suggest about the brain?

Answer 17

Rod blew through brain.
Personality was changed by brain damage.
Pre- nice+ameable
Post- aggressive+mean

Question 18

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 18

Chemicals in the brain that are passed on through synaptic transition- give balance to certain behaviours.

Question 19

What is serotonin?

Answer 19

Mood regulation, calming effect/stabilise mood.

Question 20

What do too low levels cause?

Answer 20

Depression, OCD.

Question 21

What variant gene will predispose you to low levels of serotonin?

Answer 21

SERT gene.

Question 22

What is dopamine?

Answer 22

Pleasure

Question 22

What variant gene will predispose you to high levels of dopamine?

Answer 22

COMT gene.

Question 23

What do too high levels cause?

Answer 23

OCD, schizophrenia.

Question 23

What is melatonin?

Answer 23

A sleep hormone.

Question 24

What do too low levels cause?

Answer 24

Insomnia.

Question 25

How are neurotransmitters and hormones released?

Answer 25

Biological rhythms.

Question 26

How is optimal behaviour reached?

Answer 26

Need balance to biological rhythms- homeostasis.

Question 27

Define genotype.

Answer 27

Genetic makeup- genes you inherit. -only determine the potential for particular characteristics. -genes carry information in the form of DNA.

Question 28

Define phenotype.

Answer 28

Observable characteristics of an individual. -depends on interactions with genetics and environment.

Question 29

What is suggested if Mz twins, who share 100% identical genetic makeups, have different phenotypes?

Answer 29

Influenced by different factors of the environment. eg. one twin has a higher IQ than the other.

Question 30

Define evolution.

Answer 30

Changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations.

Question 31

What are Darwin's two main concepts?

Answer 31

Natural selection Sexual selection

Question 32

What is natural selection?

Answer 32

The principle that any behaviour that benefits a species, and helps it survive and reproduce, will continue in future generations. Selection occurs because traits are desirable and give species an advantage.

Question 33

What are examples of beneficial behaviour that humans still have?

Answer 33

Ability to read body language, fear of spiders. - survival instincts.

Question 34

What is 'survival of the fittest'?

Answer 34

Animals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on traits.

Question 35

Example of advantageous behaviour.

Answer 35

Attachments. Born with the drive to attach an emotional bond with an adult caregiver. For survival, tend to us/ keep us safe. -Cry (social release), remind adult to care.

Question 36

What are the research methods used?

Answer 36

Concepts of hard science, research highly scientific in nature. Common methods- laboratory experiments+observations. Objective brain recording and scanning techniques.

Question 37

What are the positives of this approach?

Answer 37

Scientific approach- cause and effects found. Lead to treatments, eg. drugs to counteract neurotransmitter imbalance. Scientific methods it uses are able to find reliability and viability. Use of complex machinery= accurate+precise.

Question 38

What are the negatives of this approach?

Answer 38

States no free will- offensive if overrides because suggests mental illnesses are choice. Search for 'criminal gene'- always searching for biological reasoning. -ethical issues, treat everyone with genes like criminals. Lab experiments lack ecological values.