biological approach

• evolutionary psychologists aim to explain human emotions, thoughts, and response based on Charles Darwin’s theory of Evolution
• The theory states that species survive through ‘natural selection’,
• a process where those who adapt to their environment tend to survive and produce offspring
• evolutionary psychologists believe this variation is due to differences in their genes
• individuals with characteristics most suited to their environment which they live, more likely to have evolved
• the genes that allow individuals to be successful are passed to their offspring
• offspring will be more successful because they innately have the ability to survive and evolve
• this means genes within evolved families are more likely to be passed to each new generation, ‘survival of the fittest’
• aggression serves an important function in terms of both individual survival as well as reproductive potential.
• Competition arises when resources are limited and animals must compete in order to survive and reproduce.
• aggression would have made it more likely that our ancestors survived and passed on their genes
• means that aggression has an adaptive purpose because it facilitates survival and adaptation to the environment.
• Males who used aggression would have been successful in securing and retaining mates
• they could fight any rivals and prevent their mates they would be more likely to pass on their genes.
• Certain areas of the brain play certain roles in determining our behaviour.
• The brain is divided into 4 lobes:
• Frontal lobe: Concentration, personality, emotion, problem solving and speech production
• Parietal lobe: Processing sensory information e.g. touch
• Temporal lobe: Processing auditory information, memory and information

  retrieval
• Occipital lobe: Visual perception and interpretation
• Maguire et al.(2000)
• • looked at MRI scans of London taxi drivers
• • compared to the control group, the taxi drivers had increased grey matter in the posterior hippocampus, but less in their anterior.
• nervous system is made up of a series of nerves that carry messages from our brain to the rest of our body
• Each nerve cell is called a neuron
• Neurons communicate with each by transmitting a series of chemical messages called neurotransmitters
• Different neurotransmitters affect our behaviours and emotions in different ways
• significant role in mental health
• Research found too little serotonin is linked with depression.
• Antidepressant medication increases availability of serotonin at the post synaptic receptor sites to reduce symptoms of depression
• high levels of dopamine is linked with schizophrenia
• Antipsychotic medication blocks dopamine activity to reduce schizophrenic symptoms
• Phineas Gage
• Buss and Barnes (1986)
• 92 married couples = 76 mate characteristics to rank
• Both sexes rated highly: 'good

  companion', 'considerate', 'honest', 'affectionate', 'dependable’
• females ranked higher than males: 'fond of children', good earning capacity', 'ambitious’
• Males ranked higher then females: 'physically attractive', 'good looking', 'good cook', and 'frugal
• females preferred 'good financial prospects' and ‘industriousness’.
• males preferred females who were younger