The Biological Approach

• The biological approach


  Suggests that human behaviour is caused by biological factors, such as genes, neurochemicals and physical structures (the brain and nervous system)
• Assumptions of the biological approach

  1. A persons CNS has a very strong influence on their behaviour
  2. Genetic makeup of a person influences their behaviour and may also relate to the influence of evolution on behaviour
  3. Chemicals present in the body such as hormones and neurotransmitters that will influence behaviour
• The CNS

  Contains the brain and the spinal cord which will influence a persons behaviour. The CNS allows communication between the environment and the brain/body by passing messages
• Chemicals in the Body

  Neurotransmitters will influence the behaviours seen. Eg high levels of dopamine can lead to behavioural symptoms of schizophrenia
• The role of genetics 


  Biopsychologists believe that genes that a person has from the moment of conception have a strong influence in determining the kind of person they will become
• How can we observe the influence of genes

  Through monozygotic twins (identical). They have an identical genetic code. A high concordance rate or correlation between the twins behaviour may suggest that a genetic component is involved.
• A problem with monozygotic twin studies

  The concordance rates will never be 100% as even though the genotype will be the same in twins, the phenotype will not be
• What is a genotype 


  The actual genetic makeup material that a person has. Your genotype is unique to you
• What is a phenotype 


  The way genes are expressed in the behaviour or physical appearance of an individual. The phenotype can be influenced by the environment.
• The role of evolution

  The process in which a species adapts to its environment. Genetic material is passed on through generations of a species when the resulting behaviour will aid survival or in some cases, reproduction.
• Support for the biological approach


  It has been tested with highly scientific methods such as brain scans and the twin/family studies
• Negatives to the biological approach 


  It does not take into account the influence of the environment on behaviour as it purely looks at nature and ignores nurture as an influence.
• Support for the biological approach


  It has many practical applications such as drugs to treat mental illness.