The Biological Approach

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the biological approach?

Answer 1

Believes that anything psychological is biological 1st.

We should look at biological structures and processes to understand the mind.

The mind lies within the brain

Question 2

Explain the neurochemical basis of behaviour

Answer 2

Relating to the chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning.

Neurochemistry is the action of the chemicals in the brain.

An imbalance of the chemicals have been linked to mental processes

Question 3

Explain the genetic basis of behaviour

Answer 3

Twin studies have been used to see if psychological characteristics have a genetic basis

This is done by analysing concordance rates ( the extent to which twins share the same DNA) In both mono and di-zygotic

Question 4

What is a genotype?

Answer 4

The genetic makeup of a person/ the genes that the possess

Question 5

What’s does phenotype mean?

Answer 5

The way the genes are expressed

Question 6

However even having the same genes, they can still be expressed ________

Answer 6

Differently

Question 7

What did Charles Darwin propose

Answer 7

Natural selection - meaning that a any genetically determined behaviour that increases survival will continue

Question 8

P: RWA

(S)

Answer 8

E: the understanding of neurochemicals have been used to develop psychoactive drugs that treat mental disorders e.g Antidepressants

E: TMT people with these disorders can manage their conditions and can live in society instead of the hospital.

Question 9

P: They don’t work for everyone (the drugs)

W

Answer 9

E: Ciprani (2018) compared 21 different antidepressants and found wide variations in their effectiveness. And concluded that the effects of the drugs were generally modest

E: This challenges the value of the biological approach because its applications may not work in all cases and not be effective in treating depression

Question 10

P: Scientific method

S

Answer 10

E: Investigating biological basis uses a range of scientific and precise methods. These include scanning methods like Fmia nd EECG’s + the advancement of tech.

E: TMT the data from the bio approach is reliable

Question 11

P: Biological determinism

W

Answer 11

E: Its deterministic and claims we have little console over our genes. We know that even the same genes can be expressed differently (twins who don’t behave the same

E: Becomes problematic when considering crime. The biological view is too simplistic and does not consider the environment.