Section B

• Outline the concept of nature from the nature/nurture debate and how it can be linked to Casey's study of delayed gratification

  nature = behv caused by innate biological factors

  nurture = behav is learned or accquired

  Casey's study (delayed gratification) links nature as to measure Ps innate response to impulse control, completed go/nogo task in fMRI scanner so brain activity could be observed. found low delayers had difficulty resisting reward (more activity in VS - seeking reward)

  links asbuses innate biological factors: brain activity in the IFG + VS to explain delayed gratification
• Outline the concept of freewill from the freewill/determinism debate and how it can be linked to Maguire's study of structural brain plasticity

  
• What debates link to the biological approach

  • REDUCTIONISM -> the biological approach reduces complex behaviour down to the single factor of a biological basis
  • SOCIAL SENSITIVITY -> the biological approach is socially sensitive because it creates controversy as it assumes all behaviour is due to someones biological basis which they cannot control
  • NATURE -> the biological approach supports the nature debate as it looks at biological factors such as the physiological origin of regions of the brain to explain behaviour
  • SCIENTIFIC -> the biological approach is scientific as it uses objective measures when studying the biological basis of behaviour
• Outline how the biological approach can be seen to address the nature debate (3)

  the nature debate suggests behaviour is caused by innate biological factors e.g regions of the brain. the links to the biological approach as it assumes behaviour is due to biological factors + has a bio basis + physiological origin such as the physiological origin of regions of the brain to explain behaviour. for example, the biological approach suggests that delayed gratification + resisting social cues is innate + caused by the biological factor of brain activity e.g high delayers have more activity in the IFG responsible for resisting reward than low delayers
• How research from biological area supports reductionism side of reductionism/holism debate using evidence from a core study (3)

  reductionism reduces behaviour to single factors whereas holism suggests there are multiple factors contributing to behaviour. biological approach is reductionist as it breakdown behaviour using single factors only e.g. genetics + regions of brain. In Sperry's study (lateralisation of function) he explains split brain patients behaviour (e.g only name thing shown in RVF, processed in left hemisphere responsible for language) using a single biological factor such as role of corpus callosum allowing 2 hemispheres to communicate + ignoring situational explanation
• Example Q

  
• Outline how research within the biological approach can be seen as useful (5)

  
• Practical application of Maguire and Casey

  
• Example Q:

  
• Strengths and weaknesses of the biological approach

  +controlled lab settings

  +very scientific -> C+E, objectivity

  +very useful

  -low ecological validity

  -reductionist

  -social sensitivity
• Similarities between the social and biological approach

  • useful
  • reductionist
  • determinist
• Differences between the biological + social approach

  • biological = individual, social = situational
  • biological = scientific -> quantifiable measurements, control over variables = C+E can be established
• Compare the biological approach with the social approach. Use evidence from relevant core studies to support your answer. (8) pt1

  
• Compare the biological approach with the social approach. Use evidence from relevant core studies to support your answer. (8) pt2

  
• Plan for example 15 marker: Discuss the nature/nurture debate in relation to the biological approach. Use relevant core studies from the biological approach to support your answer

  
• Example answer for: Discuss the nature/nurture debate in relation to the biological approach. Use relevant core studies from the biological approach to support your answer (15) pt1

  
• Example answer for: Discuss the nature/nurture debate in relation to the biological approach. Use relevant core studies from the biological approach to support your answer (15) pt2