biological approach

• twin studies are used to investigate wether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis. this is achieved by analysing concordance rate- to which extent twins share the same characteristic
• the biological approach suggests that everything psychological is at first biological so to fully understand human behaviour we must look at biological structures and processes within the brain and the body
• neurochemistry refers to the action of chemicals in the brain. much of our thought and behaviour relies on chemical transmission in the brain. this occurs using neurotransmitters. an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain has been implicated as a possible cause of mental disorders
• if a characteristic is genetic we would expect all identical we would expect all identical twins to be concordant
• despite having the same genes the way identical twins genes are expressed is different which shows what many biological psychologists would accept that much of human behaviour depends upon interaction between inherited factors (nature) and the environment (nuture)
• natural selection is a theory proposed by charles darwin which states that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individuals survival will continue in future generations
• supporting evidence ao3:

  -uses scientific methods of investigation

  -uses a range of precise and highly objective methods e.g scanning techniques such as EEGS

  -accurately measures psychological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias

  -based on reliable data
• limiting evidence ao3:

  -biological determinism

  -to simplistic and does not take into account the mediating effects of the enviroment

  -even identical twins who share same genes do not look and think the same so enviroment must have some effect.
• supporting evidence, real world application ao3:

  -increased understanding of nuerochemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat mental disorders

  -biological approach has promoted use of antidepressants to treat depression

  -allows people to better manage their conditions and live a higher quality of life
• limiting evidence, real world application a03:

  -antidepressant drugs do not work for everyone

  -cipriani et al: compared 21 antidepressants and found wide variations in their effectiveness

  -suggest that brain chemistry alone may not account for all cases of for example depression