Biological approach AO1

• assumptions

  • everything psychological is at first biological
  • must look at biological structures in the brain
• genetic basis of behaviour

  • psychological characteristics are inherited through genes. Twin studies are used to investigate genetic basis
  • analyse concordance rates
  • environment is assumed to be constant (monozygotic and dizygotic)
• neurochemical

  • role of serotonin in OCD and dopamine in schizophrenia
  • neurotransmitters
  • genotype is genetic makeup
  • phenotype is physical. e.g., PKU
• evolution and behaviour

  • Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection
• what do individuals need to fight for?

  basic resources and those who survive the competition go on to reproduce and will tend to have behaviour that are more likely to lead to survival