The biological approach

Question 1

What are assumptions of the biological approach

Answer 1

• everything psychological is first biological
• genes,hormones and neurotransmitters need to be understood to understand behaviour

Question 2

What is neurochemistry explanations

Answer 2

-the actions of chemicals in the brain and how they influence our behaviour
- an imbalance of neurotransmitters has been linked to mental disorders

Question 3

what is the genetic basis of behaviour?

Answer 3

• twin studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics are caused genetically
• this is done through analysing concordance rates
• monozygotic twins have 100% concordance as they share all genes whereas dizygotic twins only share 50%

Question 4

What are mono and di zygotic twins

Answer 4

Mono - one egg and one sperm
DI - two eggs and two seperate sperms during the same pregnancy

Question 5

What is genotype and phenotype

Answer 5

genotype - the genetic makeup of an individual
phenotype - the way genes are expressed due to the influence of the environment and genes
- this helps illustrate nature vs nuture

Question 6

What is evolution?

Answer 6

• natural selection eventually leads to a new species developing

Question 7

What are two strengths?

Answer 7

• RWA = increased knowledge of neurochemical processes in the brain can help understand mental disorders and treat them such as depression and OCD
• Scientific methods are used in the biological approach and are objective. This makes it more reliable and valid

Question 8

What is a limitation?

Answer 8

• it is deterministic. It sees behaviour as being only caused by nature. This means humans have no free will on their behaviour
• this is too simplistic and ignores environmental and emotional influences