The biological approach

• Assumptions

  • Everything psychological starts off biological
  • Mind is in brain so all thoughts/emotions have a physical basis
• Neurochemical basis

  • Thoughts and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in brain - occurs using neurotransmitters
  • Imbalance of neurochemicals leads to mental illness eg low serotonin levels in OCD
• Genetic basis

  • Psychological characteristics inherited same way as height and eye colour
  • Twin studies used to analyse concordance rates - (extent to which twins share the same characteristics)
  • If characteristic is genetic would expect all MZ twins to be concordant (share 100% genes) - but DZ would not be (they share about 50% genes)
  • Environment assumed to be constant in both cases
• Genotype 


  Actual genetic makeup
• Phenotype 


  Way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics

  MZ twins genes are expressed differently
• Evolution


  Bowlby - argued that we evolved a biological, pre-programmed need to form attachments with our primary caregivers, which aids the natural survival process - babies have innate social releasers - cute baby things to activate attachment to adult

  Darwin - Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival will continue in future generations
• S: Real world application

  Increased understanding of neurochemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat serious mental disorders.

  Eg - biological approach has promoted treatment of clinal depression using antidepressant drugs that increase levels of neurotransmitter serotonin at synapses brainSuch drugs have been associated with the reduction of depressive symptoms

  --> People with depression may be able to manage condition and live relatively normal life.

  CP: Drugs side effects and non permanent
• S: Scientific methods 


  In order to investigate genetic and biological basis of behaviour, biological approach makes use of range of precise and highly objective methods

  Eg scanning techniques - fMRIs and EEGs

  W advances in technology it is possible to accurately measure the physiological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias

  --> much of biological approach based on objective and reliable data
• W: Biological determinism & reductionist

  Sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic causes which we have no control over however we've already seen way individuals genotype is expressed (phenotype) is heavily influenced by environment - not even MZ twins look and think exactly the same.

  Can a criminal really say they couldn't help committing a crime because criminal behaviour is in their genes? Completely ignored free will.

  Also biologically reductionist - ignores environmental and situational factors