Biological approach Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is a genotype?
-Entire genetic makeup of a person
What is a phenotype?
-The characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment.
Role of neurochemistry in biological approach?
-refers to the actions of chemicals
-behaviours and thoughts rely on chemical transmission
-imbalance of neurochemicals has been associated with a few conditions –low levels of serotonin in OCD and overproduction of dopamine in SZ.
What is used to test the genetic basis of characteristics?
-Twin studies:
if characteristic is genetic it should be in 100% of monozygotic twins and 50% of dizygotic twins
What is evolution?
-The changes in inherited characteristics in the biological population over successive generations.
What was Charles Darwin’s theory involving evolution?
-Natural selection: desirable characteristics are passed on as it increases survival rates.
What is PKU?
-rare genetic disorder that can be detected in babies using a heel prick test
- if left unchecked it can lead to learning disabilities
-if detected early enough the child can be placed on a restricted diet to prevent learning difficulties
What are the strengths of the biological approach?
-real world application: promoted the treatment of clinical depression using antidepressants to increase levels of neurotransmitter serotonin at synapses in the brain. Such drugs have been associated with reduction of depressive symptoms. This means that biological approach has led to drug therapy which means people may be able to live with their conditon.
-HOWEVER: Andrea cipriani compared 21 antidepressants and found large disparities between their effectiveness. Although all drugs were better than placebos their effects were “mainly modest. Therefore biological approach leading to drug therapy is not enough.
-scientific methods: In order to study scientific biological condition it relies on advanced technology such as FMRI’s and EEG’s scanning techniques to measure physiological and neural processes that are not open to bias. This means that data found in the biological approach is largely objective and reliable.
What are the weaknesses of the biological approach?
-Biological determinism: only focuses on biological causes for behaviour. However the way the genotype is expressed in the phenotype can be very influenced by the environment and not even identical twins are 100% the same. This suggests the biological view is too simplistic and ignores mediating effects in the environment.
