Biological Approach

• what are the assumptions of the Biological approach?


  ->all human behaviour has a biological origin

  ->this approach insists that to comprehend human behaviour fully, it's necessary to understand internal biological structures and processes including genes, the nervous system, and neurochemistry
• what are genes?


  ->they carry information in the form of DNA, which carry instructions for characteristics, such as eye colour, intelligence, e.t.c
• define genotype


  their genetic makeup, which is fixed from birth
• define phenotype 


  ->the expression of their genes which leads to the observable characteristics of a person

  -> it is usually influenced by both the genetic inheritance and interaction of this with the environment
• what are monozygotic and dizygotic twins?


  ->monozygotic twins are identical twins that share 100% of their DNA

  ->dizygotic twins are non-identical and share 50% of their DNA
• what is the concordance rate?


  ->the extent to which both twins share the same characteristics
• case study done that links to concordance rate


  ->McGuffin et al.(1996)

  ->he found that if one identical twin has depression, there is a 46% chance that the other twin will also have depression

  ->this suggests that there is a genetic component to illnesses like schizophrenia and depression

  ->these relationships are important for understanding the genetic component of psychological illnesses and demonstrate the impact of genes on certain human conditions
• what is natural selection?


  ->it was proposed by Darwin, it ensures that characteristics which provide an evolutionary advantage, such as survival and enhanced reproductive chances, are passed from one generation to the next.

  ->the ones that don't, die out
• give a an example of an evolutionary psychology research (Buss') (1994)


  ->survey of heterosexual mate selection

  ->across 37 countries studied, he found that men preferred good looks, youth and chastity

  ->women, on the other hand, preferred good financial prospects, industriousness, and dependability

  ->these results suggests that certain behaviours and traits have evolved in both males and females since they promote better prospects for passing favourable genes
• what else do psychologists believe determines our behaviour 


  the structure of our organs like the brain, CNS(central nervous system), the PNS (peripheral nervous system) and the endocrine system determine our behaviour

  ->the nervous system transmits messages through a type of nerve cell called a neuron

  ->many human behaviours are controlled by neuronal action including eating
• what is the role of the synapse?


  signals are sent between neurones by chemicals called neurotransmitters
• give an influence of neurochemistry


  ->imbalances in the number of neurotransmitters are associated with atypical behaviours

  ->e.g, too little serotonin has been associated with depression and too much dopamine has been associated with schizophrenia
• case study- Crockett et al.,2008


  ->research suggests that abnormally low levels of serotonin are linked to aggressive behaviour, indicating that this neurotransmitter is important in regulating behaviour and impulse control
• case study- Carre et al 2006


  high levels of testosterone are associated with defensiveness and territoriality in a study investigating the behaviour of ice hockey players
• what is dopamine and what is it used for?


  ->can be both an excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters depending on the receptor it binds to

  ->associated with rewards as the brain releases it in response to pleasure

  ->responsible for movement, coordination and implicated in Parkinson's disease
• what is noradrenaline and what is it used for?


  ->released from adrenal glands and increases heartrate and blood flow to the muscles and brain as well as release store glucose from fat during f/f response to deal with stressful situations
• what is serotonin and what is it used for?


  ->neurotransmitter involved in communication of impulses between neurons widespread inhibitory effects on the brain, slows down and dampens neuronal activities- likely to be indicated in depression
• what are endorphins?


  a type of neurotransmitter produced by the brain which is a natural painkiller
• what is a weakness of the biological approach?


  ->the biological explanation of human behaviour may be considered deterministic

  ->e.g some mental disorders like OCD and schizophrenia is cause by too much or too little dopamine (depending on the symptom)

  ->we have no choice in this as it's determined by the neuro-transmitter levels and pre-existing genes
• why is the biological approach being deterministic a weakness?


  ->such explanations imply that humans have very little control over their behaviour

  ->also suggests we are pre-determined to act in a certain way regardless of experience, free will, or the environment.

  ->this is problematic for those who do not follow 'typical' or 'expected behaviours and overemphasis the role of nature on behaviour
• what is a strength of the biological approach?

  ->it utilises reliable methods of research

  ->e.g some research into genetics and neuro-chemistry requires precise scientific methodology, such as fMRIs, PET scans, drug trials, and EEGs

  ->these techniques provide psychologists with an accurate measure of internal processes that were previously not accessible

  ->Tulving found that the episodic memories are stored in the right pre-frontal cortex
• why is the reliability of the methods of research by the biological approach a strength


  ->it is a strength because the consistency of the results means that we can prove the theory every time

  ->Tulving's participants recalled episodic memories

  ->He found that they are stored in the PFC

  ->this increases the validity of using PET scans for testing participants memories and increases the validity of the approach
• what is another strength of the biological approach?


  ->it has many real-world applications

  ->for example, how serotonin has been linked to depression

  ->therefore; patients can be treated using SSR's (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) which increases serotonin levels which means patients will no longer feel depressed
• why is the biological approach having many real-world applications a strength?


  ->understanding 'abnormal' neurochemical activity in the brain has not only been helpful for developing treatments but has also provided patients with an explanation that their illness is not their fault
• what is the full meaning of SSRIs and what are the side effects?


  ->Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor

  ->side effects include suicidal tendencies which can mean patients feel worse temporarily-(can be used as a counterpoint )