Biological Approach (Approaches)

Question 1

What is a genotype?

Answer 1

The genetic material passed between generations.

Question 2

What is a phenotype?

Answer 2

Observable characteristics that the genes produce

Question 3

What is the main assumptions of the biological approach

Answer 3

• Investigates how genes, hormones, evolution and the nervous system (nature) affect human behaviour.
• Tries to explain behaviour using biological causes. This means that biological treatments can be developed to modify or remove unwanted behaviours.
• Biological psychologists use animal research and twin and adoption studies to investigate their ideas.

Question 4

What is 3 strengths of the Biological Approach?

Answer 4

• The approach uses a scientific method (lab studies), so they are very controlled and objective.
• Biological treatments can be created from using the biological approach such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, which work on the assumption that chemical imbalances are the main cause of the problem.
• Measurements are objective because they are done by machines

Question 5

What is 3 limitations of the Biological Approach?

Answer 5

• Extremely reductionist –> simplifies the explanations of behaviour down to being entirely down to biology.
• Questioned whether people can truly help their behaviour according to the biological approach.
• Deterministic

Question 6

What is monozygotic?

Answer 6

Identical twins

Question 7

What is dizygotic?

Answer 7

Non-identical twins

Question 8

What is a concordance rate?

Answer 8

The extent to which twins share the same characteristics.

Question 9

What are genes?

Answer 9

• Carry the instructions for a particular characteristic.
• How it develops depends on the interaction of the gene with other genes, and particularly on the environment.

Question 10

What are neurones?

Answer 10

• Transmit nerve impulses in the form of electrical signals.
• Many aspects of behaviour are under neuronal control, such as breathing, eating and sexual behaviours.

Question 11

What is the nervous system?

Answer 11

• Made up of different connected systems
• CNS includes the brain and spinal cord
• Carries messages from one part of the body to another using nerve cells called neurons.

Question 12

What is neurotransmitters?

Answer 12

• A chemical signal that diffuses across a synapse to neuron to neurons

Question 13

What are hormones?

Answer 13

• Chemicals that are produced by the endocrine glands such as the pituitary gland.

Question 14

What are twin studies?

Answer 14

• Twin studies have been used to investigate the genetic basis of schizophrenia. Identical twins (monozygotic) share a higher percentage of their genes than non identical (dizygotic) twins, and therefore they are more likely to suffer from psychological illnesses if the cause is genetic.
• Twins that are separated from birth are analysed when they are adults and it has been found that they have similar interests and personalities, despite being raised in completely different environments.

Question 15

What are adoption studies?

Answer 15

• Used to demonstrate the genetic basis of schizophrenia
• If an adopted child has schizophrenia and their biological parent also suffers from this illness, but their addicted parent does not, then a genetic reason is for this.