Biological approach

• Outline the assumptions of the biological approach.

  Everything psychological is primordially biological and therefore one must look to biological structures and processes within the body - like genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system - to understand human behaviour. An understanding of brain structure and function can explain out thoughts and behaviour. The mind lives in the brain, meaning that thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis.

  
• What do behaviour geneticists study?

  Whether behavioural characteristics, like intelligence, are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics like height and eye colour.

  
• What type of research study is used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis?

  Twin studies.

  
• How are twin studies used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis?

  By comparing the concordance rates between pairs of twins - the extent to which both twins share the same characteristic.

  
• Define genotype.

  The set of genes that an organism possesses.

  
• Define phenotype.

  Characteristics of an individual's genes and the environment. This is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics.

  
• Describe Darwin's theory of natural selection.

  Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances one's survival and reproduction will continue in future generations - be naturally selected.

  
• One strength of the biological approach is that it brought highly scientific methods of investigation to Psychology. (Do the rest.)


  For example, the biological makes use of scanning techniques like fMRIs and EEGs, family and twin studies, and drug trials. Thanks to technological advancement, it's possible to accurately measure biological and neural processes in objective ways. This means that the biological approach is based on reliable data.

  
• A strength of the biological approach is that it has real-life applications. (Do the rest.)


  For example, increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental conditions like depression. Although these drugs may not be effective for all, they have revolutionized treatment for many. This is therefore a strength as it means that sufferers are able to manage their condition and live a relatively quotidian life.

  
• An issue with the biological approach is that it offers causal conclusions and explanations for mental conditions on a neurochemical level. (Do the rest.)


  The evidence for this relationship comes from studies that show a drug reduces symptoms of a condition and it's assumed that the neurochemical causes the condition. However, an association between two factors doesn't mean that one is a cause. This is a limitation as the biological approach is claiming to have discovered causes where only association exists.

  
• An issue with the biological approach is that it's a determinist view of behaviour. It advocates for biological determinism. (Do the rest.)


  This would mean that free will is an illusion and are governed by our biology. This has implications for the legal system and wider society. The law states that offenders are seen as legally and morally responsible for their actions. The discovery of a 'criminal gene', if possible, may complicate this principle. This means that, if there were such a thing, the legal system would have to be changed to accommodate this and biology can be used as a defence for terrible offenders looking to shed all responsibility for their actions.

  
• An issue with the biological approach is that it ignores the role of nurture. Nature and nurture cannot be separated. (Do the rest.)


  Blood-related relatives all have genetic similarities, so, as the biological approach argues, any physical and behavioural similarities must be genetic. However, exposure to similar environmental conditions is a critical confounding variable, meaning that this can easily be interpreted as supporting the nurture argument. Nonetheless, the nurture argument cannot be reconciled with the fact that monozygotic twins have higher concordance rates than dizygotic twins and siblings. This is therefore an issue as the biological approach must take nurture into account to provide more comprehensive and valid explanations of behaviour.

  
• What are the 4 assumptions?


  Genes, biological structures, neurochemistry, and evolution.
• What do genes do? GENES

  Carry instructions for development of biological structures and the synthesis of enzymes.
• What is genotype? GENES

  Genetic makeup.
• What is phenotype? GENES


  Physical appearance and behavioural traits.
• How are genotype and phenotype related? GENES

  Phenotype represents phenotype, but is modified by environmental factors.
• What are biological structures? BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES


  The components of the NS - neurons and the brain.
• What do neurons do? BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES


  Transmit nerve impulses as electrical signals and control many aspects of behaviour including breathing and sexual behaviour.
• What does the brain do? BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES


  Receives information from the senses, processes it, and sends out signals on how to respond.
• What does the brain contain? BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES


  Memory, personality, and the ability to make decisions.
• What does neurochemistry do? NEUROCHEMISTRY


  Influences behaviour using neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, and hormones such as adrenaline and testosterone.
• What are neurotransmitters important in? NEUROCHEMISTRY


  Nerve impulse transmission.
• What can abnormal levels of neurotransmitters cause? NEUROCHEMISTRY


  Unusual behaviours, e.g. low levels of serotonin are linked with depression.
• How does adrenaline influence behaviour? NEUROCHEMISTRY


  By preparing body organs for action in the fight or flight response.
• What is testosterone linked with? NEUROCHEMISTRY

  Aggressive behaviour, but it doesn't cause it.
• What does evolution suggest? EVOLUTION


  As the environment changed, different physical and behavioural traits were needed for our ancient ancestors to adapt and survive, and to compete with less well adapted humans.
• How is evolution related to genetic mutations? EVOLUTION


  Most genetic mutations are lethal, but occasionally they're not, and if these non-lethal changes were useful they gave our ancestors an adaptive advantage over other humans without the mutations.
• How do behaviours become common in the population? EVOLUTION


  By genetic mutations changing behaviour and enabling people to survive long enough to successfully reproduce and pass on these genes.
• What is the strength of the scientific method the biological approach uses?

  Lab studies take place in controlled conditions so studies can be replicated to establish validity and determine causal explanations e.g. LH of rats. Such research definitively establishes its conclusions.
• How is the biological approach useful?


  It provides clear predictions e.g. twin studies which has led to real world applications of biological research e.g. Research into neurochemistry has led to drug therapies (SSRIs for depression) and research into biological rhythms has led to improved conditions for shift workers, resulting in less accidents and greater productivity.
• Why may the biological approach be over-simplistic?


  It reduces the complexity of behaviour to the level of simple biological components. There is research support for these explanations e.g. showing low serotonin levels are linked to depression, however SSRIs raise serotonin levels in a few hours but symptoms may persist for weeks before they are reduced. This suggests that low levels of serotonin may not be the only explanation for depression and the explanation may be over-simplistic.
• What could be less simplistic than the biological approach?

  An interactionist explanation involving various aspects of brain function together with psychological factors.
• What is a limitation of the biological approach related to the nature nurture debate?

  It is difficult to separate the 2 influences. In twin studies the biological approach argues that similarities must be genetic, however the confounding variable is they are also exposed to similar environments. So findings could be supporting the influence of nurture. In research, DZ twins often show higher concordance rates than pairs of ordinary siblings, and so nurture may be the influencer here, as both DZ twins and ordinary siblings only share about 50% of DNA.