Biological approach

• what is the biological approach?

  a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical aspects such as genetic inheritance and neural functions
• Assumptions? (AO1)

  • humans are biological organisms made up of physiological processes
  • = all thoughts, ideas and cognitive processes must be biological in origin means that the mind ‘lives’ within the brain, and is not separate
  • actions of genes, hormones, neurotransmitters and neurochemical mechanisms must be understood in order to explain behaviour fully
• what is a person's genotype?

  their actual genetic makeup
• what is a persons phenotype?

  is how their genotype is expressed through their physical , behavioural and psychological characteristics
• some twins have the same genotype but different phenotypes, what does that suggest?

  due to the influence of epigenics suggesting that human behaviour depends on the surrounding environment not just through inherited factors
• what are twin studies used to investigate?

  whether certain characteristics have a genetic basis
• how are twin studies analysed?

  using concordance rates (the % of twins sharing the same characteristics)
• how can we determine whether the characteristic being studies is influenced by genetic factors?

  if the concordance rate is higher in monozygotic twins than dizygotic
• what is natural evolution?

  The mechanism of evolution:

  • changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over generations
• what does the natural evolution theory suggest?

  any genetically-determined behaviour, which gives the individual a selective advantage (increasing their chances of surviving, reproducing and passing down this beneficial allele onto their offspring), will be present in future generations
• what happens if an individual survives but does not reproduce?

  this trait is less likely to remain in the gene pool / inherited by successive generations
• what are some examples of behaviours which has a selective advantage?

  • giraffe's having longer necks to reach for food
  • specific cows producing more milk = increases chances of survival for their offspring
  • having sharp eyesight to avoid predators
• Strength: biological approach

  P - real-world application

  E - promoted treatment of clinical depression using antidepressants drugs that increase levels of neurotransmitter serotonin at synapses

  E - this is due to the increased understanding of neurochemical processes in the brain which allows the development of non - invasive drugs for treatment (name example)

  P - people with depression may be better able to manage their depression

  COUNTERPOINT: may not be successful for everyone as it may have side effects
• what does an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain do?

  implicated a possible cause of mental illness such as low levels of serotonin in OCD and overproduction of dopamine in schizophrenia
• Strength: biological approach

  P - uses scientific methods of investigation

  E - uses a range of precise and highly objective methods such as fMRIs , PET (highlights areas of low and high levels of activity in brain) and EEG scans to measure the biological and neural basis of behaviour

  E - reduces bias and increases accuracy of results alongside being able to identify early on different areas of concerns and possible development of illnesses

  P - based on objective and reliable data which can be replicated
• Limitation: Biological approach

  P - has biological determinism

  E - biological approach suggests that all behaviour is caused by internal biological forces over which we have no control e.g genes , hormones etc

  E - however, a persons phenotype is heavily influenced by the environment e.g twins have the same genotype but have different characteristics in their personality which makes up their phenotype

  L - too simplistic and ignores the mediating affects of environment