The Biological Approach Flashcards
(21 cards)
How does the biological approach explain human behaviour?
That it can be explained in terms of physical structures and processes in the brain and body?
What are some examples of physical structures and processes that may explain human behaviour?
- Genetics.
- Neurochemistry.
- Nervous System.
What are the three studies within the biological approach?
- The genetic base of behaviour.
- The influence of biological structure and neurochemistry.
- Evolution and behaviour.
What is one way of studying the genetic basis for behaviour?
Through conducting twin studies and measuring concordance rates.
What is a concordance rate?
How often both twins share the same characteristic.
What is a monozygotic (MZ) twin?
An identical twin.
What is a dizygotic (DZ) twin?
A non-identical twin.
What does it mean if monozygotic twins have a higher concordance rate than dizygotic twins?
That there is a genetic basis for the characteristic because monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes whereas dizygotic twins share 50%.
What is a person’s genotype?
Their actual genetic make-up.
What is a person’s phenotype?
This is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics.
What are phenotypes influenced by?
Environmental factors.
What is an example of an environmental factor that may cause two identical twins to look different?
Level of exercise.
What biological structures have biological psychologists studied?
The brain and the nervous system.
What is ‘localisation of function’?
The idea that specific functions might come from specific locations in the brain.
Where is it thought that our ‘language centre’ is located in the brain?
In the area known as Broca’s area.
What does neurochemistry focus on?
The study of neurochemicals.
What does the neurochemical serotonin maintain?
A stable mood.
What is the main mechanism behind evolution?
Natural selection.
What does the study of evolution focus on?
The changes in inherited characteristics over successive generations.
What is natural selection?
Where individuals with favourable characteristics make them more likely to survive and reproduce, so these characteristics get passed on and become more widespread in the population.
What are the five evaluation points for the biological approach?
\+ Scientific. \+ Practical applications. - Struggle to disentangle nature vs nurture. - Reductionist. - Determinist.
