Biological Approach

• The Biological Approach


  The influence of genes, biological structures, neurochemistry on behaviour. Genotype and Phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour.
• Assumptions of the Biological Approach

  All behaviour is biological in origin and is fully the result of biological internal process
• Genotype vs Phenotype


  Genotype: Their genes

  Phenotype: The expression of their genes
• Genes


  Genes have been shown to not only influence our physical appearance such as our eye colour and hair colour but also our intelligence which was discovered by researching monozygotic twins that share 100% DNA and dizygotic twins that share 50% DNA
• Brain Structure


  CNS, PNS and Endocrine system determine behaviour. Occipital lobe is associated with visual perception and Parietal Lobe processing of sensory information
• Phineas Gage Case Study

  Lost his ability to inhibit anti-social behaviour after an explosion sent an iron bar through his head that destroyed a large portion of his frontal cortex.
• Neurotransmitters


  The role of neurotransmitters has found a correlation between hormone levels and behaviour
• Survival of the Fittest


  These biological processes make sense to be passed down
• Evolutionary Psychology (Buss, 1994)


  Survey of Heterosexual mate selection across 37 countries revealed that men prefer good looks, youth and chastity whereas women preferred good financial prospects and dependability which proves that these ways of thinking must of been passed down.
• Evaluation: Determinism


  [S] Ignores free will and states human behaviour is just due to evolution and ignores the possible control people have over their own behaviour
• Evaluation: Reliable forms of research

  [S] MRIs, PET Scans and EEGs are all accurate and not susceptible to experimenter bias
• Evaluation: Real world Application

  [S] Drugs have been made to treat mental diseases