Biological Approach Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is the biological approach
This approach combines biology and psychology to provide a nature explanation for human behaviour. It states that all that is psychological is first biological. This theory has 4 parts;
The neurochemical basis of behaviour
The genetic basis of behaviour
Genotype and phenotype
Evolution and behaviour
What is the neurochemical basis of behaviour
The neurochemical basis of behaviour explanation suggests that behaviour is influenced neurotransmitters. For example, low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, while high levels of dopamine are associated with symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is the genetic basis of behaviour
The genetic basis of behaviour suggests that psychological traits and behaviours can be inherited through genes passed down from our parents. Twin and family studies have shown that conditions like schizophrenia and depression often run in families, indicating a genetic influence.
Whata genotype and phenotype
The genotype is someone’s genetic makeup, such as the DNA that sets the potential for the genotype
The phenotype is observable characteristic, such as the physical and behaviours characteristics that decide if the characteristic actually appears.
For example, someone might have the genes for ocd (5HT1-D) which is their genotype. But whether they develop ocd symtoms will be down to the environmental factors such as stress, which is the phenotype
What is evolution and behaviour
The evolutionary explanation suggests that behaviours have developed through natural selection because they provided a survival or productive advantage. For example, attachment behaviours in infants, such as crying, may have evolved to ensure closeness to a
caregiver and increase chances of survival.
Strength evaluation
P- objectively measured
E- For example, a genetic analysis of nearly 800 Finnish criminals found a link between low activity of the CDH13 gene and impulsive behaviour, substance abuse, and ADHD.
E- ensures the data is objective and reliable
P- real world applications
E- For example, SSRIs, which increase serotonin levels, have been shown in a large meta-analysis to be more effective than placebos for treating depression, helping people manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
E- helping people in the real world
Limiation evaluation
P- biologically reductionist
E- it explains schizophrenia in terms of neurotransmitters, yet research has found that 67% of people with psychotic disorder reported
childhood trauma, compared to 38% with non-psychotic issues
E- neglecting important environmental factors
P- assumes everyone’s biological systems are the same
E- a psychologist proves this incorrect when his research showed that women become more stressed then children, however men became more stressed over fighting
E- suggesting we cant generalise findings without knowing the differences
