The Biological Approach

• What is a genotype?

  The particular set of genes a person possesses
• How does a genotype differ from a phenotype?

  A genotype is the genetic makeup; phenotype is expression
• Who shares 100% of their DNA?

  Monozygotic twins
• What determines an individual's phenotype?

  Genes and their expression in the environment
• What is evolution in biological terms?

  Species gradually change in inherited characteristics
• What are concordance rates?

  The extent twins share the same characteristics
• What would be expected if a characteristic is genetic in monozygotic twins?

  They would share the characteristic
• What are monozygotic twins?

  Twins from the same fertilised egg
• What are dizygotic twins?

  Twins from two different eggs
• What did McGuffin et al (1996) find about depression in twins?

  46% chance of both twins having depression
• What does the finding by McGuffin et al suggest?

  There is a genetic component to depression
• Who explained evolution through natural selection?

  Charles Darwin
• What is the role of natural selection in evolution?

  Passes down advantageous genetic traits
• What do biological psychologists believe about intelligence and aggression?

  They are adaptive and enhance survival
• What are some other adaptive human behaviours?

  Memory and attachment
• Why is memory considered adaptive?

  It evolved to enable survival
• How is attachment to a primary caregiver adaptive?

  It increases an infant’s survival rate
• What are the scientific methods used in the biological approach?

  • Precise and objective methods
  • Advances in technology for measurement
  • Minimizes bias in data collection
• What is the real-world application of the biological approach?

  • Understanding neurochemical processes
  • Use of psychoactive drugs for treatment
  • Antidepressants increase serotonin levels
• What did Cipriani et al (2018) find about antidepressant drugs?

  Wide variations in their effectiveness
• What conclusion did Cipriani et al reach about antidepressants?

  Their effects are mainly modest
• What is biological determinism?

  Behaviour governed by genetic causes
• How does an individual's phenotype relate to the environment?

  Heavily influenced by environmental factors
• What does the similarity of identical twins suggest about the biological view?

  It may be too simplistic
• What is a limitation for the Biological approach?

  • Biological Determinism
  • The biological approach is determinist in that it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic causes over which we have no control
  • However, an individual’s phenotype is heavily influenced by the environment and not even identical twins look and think the same
  • This suggests that the biological view is often too simplistic and ignores the mediating effects of the environment
• What is a limitation for the Biological approach?

  • Counter Evidence
  • Cipriani et al (2018) compared 21 antidepressant drugs and found wide variations in their effectiveness
  • Although most of the drugs were more effective than placebos in comparative trials, the researchers concluded that the effects of antidepressants were mainly modest
  • This challenges the value of the biological approach, as it suggests that brain chemistry alone may not account for all cases of depression
• What is a strength for the Biological approach?

  • Real World Application
  • Increased understanding of neurochemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat serious mental disorders
  • The biological approach has promoted the treatment of clinical depression using antidepressant that increase levels of serotonin at synapses in the brain and such drugs have been associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms
  • This means that people with depression may be better able to manage their condition and live their lives in the community
• What is a strength for the Biological approach?

  • Scientific Methods
  • In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and high objective methods
  • With advances in technology, it is possible to accurately measure physiological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias
  • This means that much of the biological approach is based on objective and reliable data