biological approach

• what is the biological approach main assumption?

  all psychological aspects of a person has a physical cause located in the body
• what does the biological approach assume psychological characteristics are determined by?

  • genes
  • biochemistry (hormones and neurotransmitters)
  • neuroanatomy (brain structure)
• what are the 3 main principles of the biological approach to psychology?

  1. genetics
  2. genotype and phenotype
  3. evolution
• define gene

  part of chromosome of an organism carrying inheritable information
• define genotype

  genetic make-up of an individual
• define hormone

  chemicals produced by endocrine glands causing physiological reactions
• define natural selection

  process by which characteristics enhancing reproductive success or survival passed down
• define phenotype

  observable characteristics of an individual from interaction between genes and environment
• define neurotransmitter

  chemical messengers stimulating our brain
• outline genetics as part of the biological approach to psychology

  instructions for biological activity

  • variants get passed down through families or mutations
  • doesn't ignore the environment as suggests environment affects genes and use of epigenetics
• explain studies that researched the role of genetics

  twin studies investigate if personality characteristics are inherited the same as physical features

  • MZ twins are more similar than DZ twins
• explain the link between genotypes and phenotypes with twin studies

  MZ twins have the same genotype but lead different lifestyles so have changes in physical appearance
• outline the role of evolution

  • characteristic is helpful to survival then it becomes naturally selected and passed down to offspring
  • characteristics become shared by all species
  • doesn't ignore the environment as it dictates what is advantageous and how species adapt
• outline the role of neurochemistry

  complex network of electrical and chemical activity

  • brain relies on electrochemical messages
  • changes in balance in the brain changes how we think and feel
  • different brain regions change behaviour if damaged
• evaluate the biological approach to psychology

  • highly scientific methods e.g. brain scans and twin studies, which are less prone to bias, support from strong evidence

  
  

  • development of effective drug therapies for psychological disorders, practical benefits

  
  

  • reductionist as ignores role of emotions and sociocultural context, parsimonious