the biological approach

• what does the biological approach suggest

  • everything in psychology is at first biological so to fully understand human behaviour we must look at biological structures and processes within the body such as gene, neurochemistry and nervous system, understanding brain structure can explain our thoughts etc
• what’s monozygotic


  have concordance rate of 100% so share 100% of their genes (identical twins)
• what’s dizygotic?


  shares 50% of their genes so they are non identical
• twin studies?


  • twins are used for comparison and are used as a basis to determine wether certain traits are inherited
  • done through concordance rates
  • eg. ms twins have 68% concordance rate for OCD
  • eg. dz twins have a 31% concordance for OCE
• what’s a genotype 


  genetic makeup of a cell so an organism or an individua, includes all our genetic info
• what’s a phenotype


  physical expression resulting from the inherited info
• What does the similarity rate of being diagnosed with schizophrenia suggest about its cause?


  It suggests there could be a gene basis for the cause of schizophrenia.
• How does aggression relate to survival rates in animals?


  Aggression is a widespread animal behavior that improves survival rates, such as in hunting.
• What do bio psychologists believe about the inheritance of behavior?


  They believe that behavior can also be inherited as genes are inherited.
• How does aggression affect attractiveness in males?


  Aggression increases attractiveness in males.
• How is behavior developed according to the study material?


  Behavior is developed through adaptation.
• What is a mutation in the context of genetics?


  A mutation is a random change to genetic makeup that leads to a behavioral change.
• What happens if a genetic change increases survival or reproductive chances?


  The species is more likely to live on.
• Which traits are mentioned as adaptive in the study material?


  Traits such as intelligence, attractiveness, and aggression have been adaptive.
• How long does the process of significant change to a species take?


  This process takes many generations to make significant change to a species.
• What is the MAOA gene also known as?


  The MAOA gene is known as the warrior gene.
• What percentage of men have the MAOA gene?


  About ⅓ of men have the MAOA gene.
• What behaviors does the MAOA gene underpin?


  The MAOA gene underpins our risk-taking and aggressive behavior.
• what does the cerebellum control in the brain 


  muscle movements, balance and co ordination
• what does the temporal lobe control 


  auditory info
• occipital lobe controls? 


  takes in visual info
• parietal lobe controls? 


  sensations
• frontal lobe controls?


  you have mature rational decision making
• influences of neurochemistry: 


  • chemical processes in the brain can be an important influence of behaviour
  • brain relies on large numbers of chemicals to send signals between neurons
  • imbalance of chemicals results in over or under activity in parts of the brain which results in change to behaviour etc
• what are the two strengths of the biological approach 


  • scientific method
  • useful application
• what are the two limitations of the biological approach

  • nature/nurture
  • biological reductionism