Biological

• What is the main premise of the biological approach in psychology?

  Everything psychological is first biological.
• What does the phrase "The mind lives in the brain" imply?

  It suggests that there is a physical basis for thought.
• How can behavior that is explained biologically be treated?

  It can be treated biologically through drugs or surgery.
• What type of research is commonly conducted in the biological approach?

  Experimental research on animals.
• What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?

  • Understanding brain structure and function explains thoughts and behavior.
  • Biological structures and processes (genes, neurochemistry, nervous system) are essential for understanding human behavior.
• How do biological psychologists use brain structure in their research?

  They use brain structure to explain differences in behavior.
• What is the purpose of MRI scans in biological psychology?

  MRI scans link differences in brain structure to behaviors.
• What did Maguire (2000) find about London taxi drivers?

  They have a larger hippocampus than controls.
• What does neurochemistry refer to?

  It refers to the action of chemicals in the brain, specifically neurotransmitters.
• What mental disorders are associated with an imbalance of neurochemicals?

  OCD and schizophrenia.
• What is heredity?

  The passing of characteristics from one generation to the next through genes.
• How do genes influence characteristics?

  Genes carry instructions for particular characteristics, influenced by the environment.
• What is natural selection?

  The process by which genetically determined behaviors that enhance survival are passed on.
• What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?

  Genotype is the set of genes, while phenotype is how those genes are expressed.
• What does evolution refer to in the context of behavior?

  Changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over generations.
• What is the focus of psychologists studying the genetic basis of behavior?

  To determine the extent to which behaviors are influenced by genetics or the environment.
• What methods are used to investigate the genetic basis of behavior?

  1. Twin studies
  2. Adoption studies
• What do monozygotic twins share in terms of genetics?

  They share 100% of their genes.
• What do dizygotic twins share in terms of genetics?

  They share 50% of their genes.
• What is the purpose of comparing concordance rates in twin studies?

  To study the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis.

  
• What is the definition of concordance rate?

  A measure of similarity between two individuals on a given trait, expressed as a percentage.
• What do adoption studies compare?

  They compare traits between adopted children and their biological or adoptive parents.

  
• What are the real-world applications of the biological approach?

  • Development of medications for mental disorders.
  • Example: Antidepressants increase serotonin levels.
  • Improved quality of life for patients with mental disorders.
• What is a limitation of antidepressant drugs?

  They do not work for everyone, challenging the biological approach's validity.
• What is biological determinism?

  It is the view that behavior is determined by internal genetic causes.
• What is a criticism of the biological approach regarding behavior?

  It is reductionist and ignores environmental influences.
• What are the strengths of the biological approach?

  • Uses scientific methods of investigation.
  • Employs precise and objective measurements (e.g., MRI, EEG).
  • Based on objective and reliable data.
• Why are scientific methods important in the biological approach?

  They allow for accurate measurement of physiological and neural processes.