Biological approach

• Assumptions-

  • innate behaviours
  • humans are biological beings
  • biological structures
  • behaviours have a physical basis
• Neurochemistry-

  • chemicals in the brain (dopamine + serotonin)
  • behaviours/thoughts rely on neurotransmitters as synaptic transmissions
  • imbalance of neurotransmitters can impact physical/mental health (OCD, schizophrenia)
  • practical application in developing drugs (SSRI’s)
• Genetics-

  • twin and family studies
  • see genetic characters
  • monozygonic twins (100% same) show The difference between nature and nurture
  • Difficult due to twins often being raised in the same environment
• Genotype and Phenotype-

  • genotype is the genetic makeup
  • phenotype is the way genes are expressed through their characteristics
  • behaviour is in interactions between nature ad nurture
  • twins will have the same genotypes but different phenotypes
• Evolution and behaviour-

  • Darwin‘s theory of natural selection
  • genetically determined behaviour enhances the survival of an individual impacting the future of the species through reproduction
  • those who aren’t genetically adapted will die off, leaving the adapted and new species to reproduce further, evolving the species to adapt to their environment
• Evaluations-

  • S- scientific methods used- rigorous brain scanning, twin studies with high control (infer cause and effect)
  • CPS- real life application in treating mental illness, by understanding the neurochemistry to help develop a drug therapy
  • CPW- drugs don’t work for all, Cipriani found they don’t fully wore for all but have an effect
  • W- scientific methods- loose sight of the individual, other factors can effect behaviour
  • W- need to investigate interactions between nature and nurture
  • W- biologically deterministic- no free will over behaviour gives possible negative impacts on society