the biological approach

Question 1

what are the assumptions regarding the biological approach?

Answer 1

• everything psychological is at first biological
• we must look at biological structures to fully understand human behaviour
• the mind lives in the brain - meaning that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis

Question 2

what is the biological approach?

Answer 2

a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body such as genetic inheritance and neural function

Question 3

what is neurochemistry?

Answer 3

• refers to the action of chemicals in the brain

Question 4

what does our behaviour rely on?

Answer 4

• much of our behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain
• occurs using neurotransmitters

Question 5

what does an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain lead to?

Answer 5

• cause mental illness for example low levels of serotonin in OCD and overproduction of dopamine in schizophrenia

Question 6

how are twin studies used to investigate whether psychological characteristics have a genetic basis?

Answer 6

• achieved by analysing concordance rates - the extent to which twins share the same characteristics
• if the characteristic is genetic we would expect all identical twins (monozygotic) to be concordant
• whereas the same would not be true for non-identical (dizygotic twins who share about 50% of the same genes
• in both cases, the environment is assumed to be constant

Question 7

what are a person’s genotype and phenotype?

Answer 7

genotype = actual genetic make-up 
phenotype = the way the genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics

Question 8

genotype and phenotype

Answer 8

• despite having the same genes the way identical twin genes are expressed (phenotype) is different
• illustrates what many biological psychologists would accept, that much of human behaviour depends upon an interaction between inherited factors (nature) and the environment (nurture)

Question 9

what does it mean evolution?

Answer 9

the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations

Question 10

Charles darwin - natural selection

Answer 10

• the main principle - is that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations i.e. be naturally selected

Question 11

natural selection - cows

Answer 11

• farmer decides which animal to use for breeding
• farmer selects the one who possesses desirable characteristics
• e.g. if one of the cows produces a high milk yield the farmer chooses this cow to breed
• in nature, this selection takes place naturally