biological approach

• assumptions:

  • all thoughts, feelings + behaviours have physical basis
  • everything psychological is at first biological
  • to understand behaviour we must look at biological structures + processes
• neurochemical basis of behaviour:

  • action of chemicals in brain e.g neurotransmitters
  • imbalance linked to causes of mental illnesses e.g serotonin + depression, aggression
• genetic basis of behaviour:

  • study whether psychological characteristics are inherited in same way as physical characteristics
  • concordance rates compared in twin studies to see whether they have genetic basis e.g nestadt et al - OCD MZ = 68%, DZ = 31%
• genotype + phenotype:

  • genotype = genetic makeup, phenotype = way genes are expressed through physical, behavioural characteristics
  • MZ have same genotype, phenotype may differ - stress, exercise
  • PKO rare genetic disorder, tested using heel prick test, can cause severe learning difficulties, restricted diet - normal development
• evolution + behaviour:

  • darwin + natural selection - any genetically determined behaviour that enhances chance of survival + reproduction + continue in future generations
  • bowlby's theory of attachment + sexual selection
• EVALUATION: scientific methods

  • precise + objective methods used to investigate genetic + bio basis of behaviour - scanning techniques e.g fMRIs
  • advances in tech, made it possible to measure physiological + neural processes without bias
  • based on objective + reliable data
• EVALUATION: real world application

  • neurochemical processes associated with use of drugs to treat mental disorders
  • promoted treatment of clinical depression with antidepressants - reduce depressive symptoms
  • depressed people can manage condition better
• EVALUATION: biological determinism

  • behaviour governed by internal genetic causes with no control - phenotype often influenced by environment + concordance rates arent 100%
  • predetermined to act in certain way regardless of experience + free will - 'criminal gene'
  • view is too simplistic, ignores other effects