bioological approach

Question 1

weakness of biological approach : the theory minimises the role of the environment

Answer 1

Research such as little Albert has demonstrated with cause and affect that phobias can be learned

this goes against the biological approach which would suggest that phobias are evolved or passed to the next generation through genetics

Question 2

Social implications of the biological approach

• positive

Answer 2

It has taught us more about ourselves as social beings

humans may form groups like friendships as an adaptive response to the environment

by grouping we can share resources and increase chance of survival

Question 3

weakness of biological approach - deterministic

Answer 3

The approach is deterministic

the approach doesn’t allow humans to have free will

humanistic researchers would disagree with this and criticise the approach for refusing to believe that people with maladaptive behaviours can choose to change and self actualise

Question 4

What are the practical applications of the biological approach ?

Answer 4

Development of drugs :
The biological approach has led to The development of psychoactive drugs e.g for depression and schizophrenia

these may target specific genes to directly treat the disorder or may alter neurotransmitter levels to help alleviate symptoms

e.g chloropromazine reduce dopamine action and so normalise neurotransmission in the hypothalamus in the brains of schizophrenia sufferers

the advantage of the drugs is that compared to CBT they require minimal effort from the patient

they are non invasive and not time consuming unlike cognitive therapies which require will power and regular sessions

Question 5

Twin studies :

Answer 5

Monozygotic twins share 100% of eachothers genes
dizygotic twins share 50%

psychologists look at concordance rates - percentage of both twins displaying the same characteristics

gottesman and shields found a 58% concordance rate for schizophrenia in monozygotic twins compared to a 12% concordance rate for dizygotic twins

Question 6

What is the influence of biological structures ?

Answer 6

It has been theorised that certain areas of the brain may be responsible for specific types of functioning

e,g broca had a patient named tan

he was named this because he was only able to produce the word tan

Question 7

What is the influence of neurotransmitters ?

Answer 7

When an electrical nerve impulse reaches the end of a neuron a neurotransmitter

the neurotransmitter travel across the synapses

the levels of neurotransmitters can affect mood and behaviour of individuals

E,g dopamine hypothesis in schizophrenia suggests that the schizophrenia results from excess in dopamine

Question 8

What are epigenetics?

Answer 8

Epigenetics is a change in gene expression, without altering an individual’s genetic make-up. Epigenetic markers, such as DNA methylation and histone tail modification, can be left on DNA through exposure to certain environmental factors, such as specific diets and pollution.

Question 9

How does the interaction between the phenotype and the environment result in individual behaviour?

Answer 9

Two people may have the same genotype but different phenotypes. This may be due to personal choices they’ve made to alter their appearance, such as dying their hair or piercing their ears

Question 10

What is a phenotype?

Answer 10

the behaviours displayed due to our genotype

Question 11

What is a genotype?

Answer 11

a genotype is our genetic makeup

we all have the same bases for our genes however due to mutation some people develop a faulty gene

Question 12

what is the biological basis of behaviour?

Answer 12

The Biological Basis of Behaviour:
* Heritability coefficients can be used to quantify the genetic or biological basis of a certain
characteristic. For example, IQ is said to have a heritability coefficient of 0.5 (Plomin),
and so the influence of nature (genetics) and nurture (the environment) are equal

Question 13

what are the assumptions?

Answer 13

*According to the biological approach, humans are biological organisms made up of physiological processes.

*Therefore, all thoughts, ideas and cognitive processes must be biological in origin. This
means that the mind ‘lives’ within the brain, and is not separate (as viewed by the cognitive approach).

*The actions of genes, hormones, neurotransmitters and neurochemical mechanisms
must be understood in order to explain behaviour fully.

Question 14

what is maladaptive behaviour?

Answer 14

Behaviour thats not ajusted appropriately to the environment

Question 15

What is adaptive behaviour?

Answer 15

behaviour which adjusts appropriately to the environment

Question 16

What are examples of genetically-determined behaviours with a selective advantage?

Answer 16

avoiding fire and deep water (these are the prepared stimuli suggested by Seligman’stheory of learned preparedness),

certain individuals having longer necks (Lamarck’s example of an animal who is better adapted to reaching and eating leaves at the tops of trees) and specific cows producing more milk (increasing the chance of survival of their young).

Question 17

What is natural selection?

Answer 17

*The theory suggests that any genetically-determined behaviour, which gives the individual a selective advantage (increasing their chances of surviving, reproducing and passing down this beneficialallele onto their offspring), will be present in future generations.

• This is due to the genetic transmission of ‘beneficial’ characteristics from one generation to the next (i.e. heredity).

Question 18

What is evolution?

Answer 18

Evolution = “The process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioural traits”.

all adaptive and maladaptive behaviours are evolved