Biological approach

• What is the biological approach?

  All behaviour has a physical basis, must look at biological structures such as genes, neurochemistry etc to explain behaviour.
• What is a genotype?

  Genetic makeup which is fixed from birth - intelligence and mental disorders are inherited.
• What is a phenotype?

  Way that genes are expressed and influenced by environmental factors.
• What are concordance rates?

  The extent to which both twins share the same characteristics
• What does MZ stand for?

  Monozygotic - identical twins
• What does DZ stand for?

  Dizygotic - non identical twins
• If identical twins are found the have higher concordance rates than non-identical twins, what would this suggest?

  Theres a genetic basis
• What is evolution in terms of the approach?

  Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual's survival will continue in future generations - naturally selected
• What does evolution explain?

  Aggression and Phobias
• What are biological structures?

  Belief that the structure of the brain determines our behaviour.
• What is a case study for the approach?

  Phineas Cage - became aggressive + anti-social after an iron bar was sent through his head, destroying a large portion of the frontal lobe.
• What are the practical applications of the approach?

  Development of drugs for mental illness (depression, schizophrenia). Schziophrenia may be caused by abnormally high levels of dopamine - antipsychotics reduce it. Depression caused by abnormally low levels of serotin - SSRIs reduce this.
• How does the biological approach have highly controlled and objective studies?

  Uses brain scanning techniques - fMRIs and PET scans are highly scientific. Enabled cognitive and biological to come together. Increases the internal validity of the findings
• How is the approach biologically reductionist?

  Ignores other explanations - behaviourist (behaviour is learned from environment as a result of classical and operant conditioning) - only a partial explanation of behaviour. Diathesis-stress model may be a more plausible explanation.