Biological approach

• Assumptions- 

  Everything psychological is due to biological structures and processes

  The mind lives in the brain - all thoughts and feelings have a physical basis

  Uses very scientific and objective measures 
• Genetic basis of behaviour 

  psychological characteristics are inherited the same way as physical characteristics

  twin studies- used to determine if a certain characteristics are inherited, dizygotic -50% shared DNA, monozygotic - 100% shared DNA
• genotype- genetic makeup

  phenotype- genes expressed

  identical twins have the same, genotype a different phenotype

  Argument of nature versus nurture- environment is likely to have an influence on phenotype
• evolution

  The gradual changes in an inherited characteristic of a species over many generations

  Any genetically determined ability that aids survival will be passed on
• Neurochemical basis

  Actions of chemicals in the brain, thought and behaviour rely on chemical transmission

  Neurotransmitters- imbalance seen to cause mental disorders
• A strength is real world application

  Increased understanding of neuro chemical processes, improves the use of psychoactive drugs used to treat mental disorders

  however, these drugs don’t work for everyone. Many people get given the wrong prescription or misuse the drugs and even when they do work, it may not indicate neurochemistry is the cause.
• A strength is scientific methods of investigation are used things like brain scans, and MRIs are used

  With advances in technology, it is possible to accurately measure psychological and neural processes in a way that are not open to bias

  this means that the data produced is reliable and valid
• A limitation is the biological determinism

  Human behaviour is seen as governed by internal genetic causes that we have no control over

  It is problematic when we consider things like crime, can a criminal excuse their actions because of a crime gene

  This suggests that the biological view is often too simplistic and ignores the mediating affects of the environment