Biological Approach

• What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?


  All thoughts, feelings, behaviour and intelligence is at first biological
• What is the neurochemical basis of behaviour?


  Thoughts and behaviours rely on the chemical transmission of neurotransmitters. An imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain has a possible cause of mental disorders.
• What is the influence of genes in twins?


  All behavioural and psychological characteristics can be inherited. Monozygotic twins (identical - 100% shared DNA) have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. Dizygotic twins (fraternal - 50% shared DNA) have an increased risk of developing depression if one twin has depression.
• What is a strength of the biological approach?


  Uses scientific methods of investigation, like scanning techniques, which makes it more objective, reliable and therefore more valid.
• What is a weakness of the biological approach?


  Too deterministic as it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic causes over which we have no control - no free will so can't explain complex behaviours