Biological

• What does the biological approach assume about human behavior?

  It results from biological structures and processes
• How does the biological approach differ from the cognitive approach?

  The mind is not separate from the brain
• What are neurotransmitters?

  Chemicals that act in the brain
• What role does serotonin play in the brain?

  Regulates mood and attention
• What is the function of dopamine?

  Released during pain or stress
• What do endorphins produce?

  Feelings of contentment and calmness
• What is oxytocin linked to?

  Fight or flight response
• What does adrenaline help regulate?

  Sleep-wake cycles
• What is cortisol?

  Stress hormone released during stress
• What do behavior geneticists study?

  Inherited behavioral characteristics
• What do twin studies measure?

  Concordance rates of traits
• What do higher concordance rates in identical twins suggest?

  Genetic basis for certain traits
• What did Bouchard and McGue (1981) study?

  IQ correlation among family members
• What is the concordance rate for identical twins raised together?

  0.86
• What is the concordance rate for non-identical twins raised together?

  0.60
• What is heredity?

  Process of passing traits genetically
• What are genes?

  Biochemical units of heredity
• What do nativists believe?

  Characteristics are products of evolution
• What is the nature-nurture debate?

  Influence of genes vs. environment on behavior
• What is the genotype?

  Particular set of genes a person has
• What is the phenotype?

  Characteristics determined by genes and environment
• How do genotype and phenotype interact?

  Genotype influences phenotype through environment
• What is the relationship between genotype and phenotype in flamingos?

  Food affects flamingos' observable color
• What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?

  • Genotype: genetic makeup of an individual
  • Phenotype: observable characteristics influenced by genes and environment
• How can identical twins have different school grades?

  Due to genotype-environment interactions
• Why were researchers justified in concluding genetic influence on mental illness?

  MZ twins had higher concordance rates
• What does Darwin's theory of Natural Selection propose?

  Behaviors enhancing survival are passed on
• What is a strength of the biological approach?

  Uses precise and objective scientific methods
• What is a limitation of the biological approach?

  It is overly deterministic in nature
• How does the biological approach view human behavior?

  Governed by internal genetic causes
• What is a potential issue with biological determinism?

  It oversimplifies complex human behavior
• What are the strengths and limitations of the Biological Approach?

  Strengths:

  • Real world application
  • Scientific methods

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Deterministic
  • Too nomothetic