Biological A01

• Assumptions of the biological approach

  Everything psychological is biological thus to fully understand behaviour, biological structures within the body must be examined
• What biological structures are being examined?

  Genes,neurochemistry and Nervous system
• Biological Approach on the mind


  Mind lives in the brain- all thoughts, feelings and behaviours have a physical basis
• Behaviour geneticists


  Study whether intelligence, personality and mental disorders are inherited in some ways as physical characteristics.
• Twin studies

  Used to determine likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates between twins.
• Concordance rates

  Identical twins (monozygotic) have a higher concordance rate than non-identical twins (dizygotic) and this would suggest a genetic basisMZ twins= 100% genes shared DZ twins=50% genes shared
• Genotype

  Actual gene make-up
• Phenotype


  The way the genes are expressed through psychological characteristics and can be influenced by environment
• Twins example with genotypes and phenotypes

  Identical twins usually look different because one twin dyed their hair despite the fact they got same genes
• Nature and Nurture


  Much of human behaviour depends on interaction between inherited factors (nature) and environment (nurture)
• Evolution and behaviour

  Charles Darwin theory in the 19th century of natural selection. Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual's survival will continue in future generations
• Example of natural selection

  Farmer selects animal with desirable charcteristics
• Process of natural selection

  Takes place naturally as the selection only happens due to the possessor having certain advantages; more likely to survive and reproduce on good traits