Biological Psychology

Question 1

What are the key concepts of the biological area

Answer 1

-everything psychological is first biological
-the mind resides in the brain so all thoughts, feelings and behaviours have a biological cause
-focuses on genes, hormones, neurotransmitters and brain structure to explain behaviour
-acknowledges the role of evolution
-universalities and differences in our biological makeup
-often uses controlled laboratory experiments to consider shared behaviours and how we are unique

Question 2

What behaviours can be determined by our biology?

Answer 2

-hunger
-anger
-gender identity
-emotions
-attraction

Question 3

What are the main four drugs used to treat mental disorders?

Answer 3

• anti-anxiety
• anti-depressants: used to treat depression, ocd, phobias and panic disorders
  -anti- mania: bipolar etc
• anti psychotic: use to treat schizophrenia by reducing hallucinations and delusions

Question 4

What are applications of the biological approach?

Answer 4

-recognising brain plasticity and how removing parts of the brain associated with a behaviour problem may benefit someone’s quality of life
-possible to treat mental disorders by changing how the body works

Question 5

Strengths of the biological area

Answer 5

-highly scientific, uses lab experiments, standardised, replicable, reliable
-highly controlled, valid
-helped develop applications like medical treatments for disorders

Question 6

Weaknesses of the biological area

Answer 6

-can be socially sensitive, “its in your genes” inferring you can’t change
-fails to look at other details into the way we behave, biological reductionism