biological

• what is the biological approach?


  considers physiology, biochemistry, and evolution in relation to human behavior.
• what are the different methods for investigating the extent to which psychological characteristics are affected by inheritance?


  twin studies

  family studies

  adoption studies

  selective breeding
• what is a monozygotic?

  one zygote = these twins are formed when 1 fertilised cell splits into 2 and forms 2 separate embryos
• what is dizygotic?

  two zygotes = these twins are formed when 2 separate eggs both become fertilised by different sperm cells
• what is predisposition?


  when you carry a gene, but you need an environment trigger or stimulus to switch the gene on to develop the condition
• what is genotype?


  the actual set of genes an individual has
• what is phenotype?


  an individuals anatomical features or observed traits
• what is the difference between genotype and phenotype?


  the genotype is the genetic programming that provides the phenotype. an individuals phenotype is determined by its genotype.

  genotype + environment = phenotype
• what is evolution?


  the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations
• what are the 2 main concepts in evolution?


  natural selection

  sexual selection
• what makes up someone's phenotype?


  genotype plus the environment
• how do identical twins have different personalities when separated at birth?


  they have the same genotype so their personalities should be the same however because they grew up in different environments their phenotypes are different due to the interactions between genotype and the environment
• what is predisposition?


  when you carry a gene but you need an environment trigger or stimulus to switch the gene on to develop the condition
• strengths of the biological approach


  takes place in highly controlled environments - easily to replicate

  measurements can be objective as it is performed by machines that have no interest in the outcome

  psychotic drugs which helps mental illnesses
• limitations of the biological approach


  using a reductionist approach - may lose insight into complexity of causes

  drugs reduce symptoms - assumed that the drug causes the disorder which is false
• what is reductionism?


  the belief that complex human behaviour can be explained by breaking down its smallest component parts such as the actions of genes