The Biological Approach Flashcards
(23 cards)
Give the key assumption of the biological approach.
Behaviour is affected by GENETICS (evolution; influence to physical characteristics- phenotypes)
CNS (structure of brain; function of brain- neuroscience)
and BIOCHEMISTRY (chemicals within brain- neurotransmitters; chemicals within body- hormones)
What is heredity?
The inheritance of PHYSICAL or MENTAL characteristics from one generation to the next.
What is a genotype?
Configuration of dominant or recessive alleles to determine the presence of a trait/ characteristic/ disease
What is a phenotype?
Physical expression of a genotype (e.g. red hair)
Each individual is typically born with 23 pairs of ___________.
Chromosomes.
What are MZ twins?
Monozygotic (or identical)
What are DZ twins?
Dizygotic (or non- identical)
How can comparing MZ and DZ twins give a good indication of whether something might be genetic?
Comparing MZ twins (who are 100% genetically similar) with DZ twins in something like the likelihood of them both having a disorder, indicates how much it might be genetic.
What are concordance rates?
Shared behaviour (e.g. from twin research)
Gottesman = schizophrenia
Craddock & Jones = Bipolar depression
Walters & Kendler = anorexia nervosa
Why, in terms of identical twins, can you decide that some behaviours could be a mix of genetics and environment?
If something is entirely due to genes, concordance rates would be 100% for identical twins as they share 100% of their genetics.
Suggest how a mutation might be described as adaptive.
A mutation is a change in the base sequence of DNA and it can cause a new characteristic or behaviour occurring.
If this change means that survival is less likely then the gene is not passed on.
If the change means that survival is more likely then the gene is passed on when reproduction happens (and this mutation is said to have been adaptive)
What do biological psychologists believe about intelligence and aggression?
They believe that these characteristics were “adaptive” from the outset and therefore became part of the evolutionary process.
What is meant by evolution?
The development of organisms through adaptations and natural selection.
What did Lea et al discover?
That the MAOA (warrior) gene is the genetic basic of aggressive and risk-taking behaviour and it is found in one third of men.
Name the two biological structures involved in behaviour.
The endocrine system
The nervous system
What is the nervous system?
It is made up of the central nervous system:
- Brain and spinal chord
- Sends messages to and from environment
- Where all the physiology of the individual is controlled.
and the peripheral nervous system:
- Sends and receives information to the CNS
- Very important in movement due to the somatic system comprising the muscles attached to the skeleton.
What is a neurone?
A nerve cell which transfers information throughout the nervous system.
What is the endocrine system?
The system which affects the transfer and secretion of hormones throughout the body.
What do biological psychologists believe about hormone levels?
They argue that the level of a hormone can affect the behaviour of an individual.
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals within the cerebral (or brain) fluid that transmit signals.
High levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are related to schizophrenia.
What is neurochemistry?
The biochemistry of the central nervous system.
Strengths of the biological approach-
It adopts scientific methods for investigation using measures which are largely objective (e.g. brain scanning and biochemical levels) which differs from the behaviourist approach which argues that there is no genetic implement and only observable things are measurable scientifically.
It is one of the strongest supporters of nature in the nature- nurture debate.
Biopsychology research can result in practical applications being developed such as drugs which help the symptoms of people struggling wth psychological problems.
Weakness of biological approach-
- Some of the explanations are too simplistic and do not do the complexity of human behaviour justice (reductionist).
- Often fails to acknowledge the role of environment on behaviour.
