Biological approach PDF

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Biological Approach Key assumptions Everything psychological is at first biological 

To fully understand human behaviour, we must look at biological structures and processes within the body. Such as genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system

Behaviour has a genetic and neurochemical basis  

Behaviours are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics Neurochemistry explains behaviour, for example, low levels of serotonin in OCD

The mind and body are one and the same 

From a biological perspective, the mind lives in the brain - meaning that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis

Twin studies are used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour

 

Concordance rates between twins are calculated. This is the extent to which twins share the same characteristic Higher concordance rates among identical twins (monozygotic) than non-identical twins (dizygotic) is evidence of a genetic basis. For example, 68% of monozygotic twins both have OCD compared to 31% of dizygotic twins

Genotype and Phenotype Genotype 

The genotype is a person’s actual genetic make-up

Phenotype   

The way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural psychological characteristics This is influenced by environmental factors For example, PKU is a genetic disorder that can be prevented by a restricted diet

Evolution and behaviour    

Charles Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection Any genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival and reproduction will be passed on to future generations Such genes are described as adaptive and give the possessor and their offspring advantages For instance, attachment behaviours in newborns promote survival and are therefore adaptive and naturally selected

Evaluation of the biological approach

1. A strength is its use of scientific methods of investigation  In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, a range of highly precise and scientific methods are used  These include scanning techniques and drug trials, which makes it possible to accurately measure biological and neural processes in ways that are not biased  This means that the approach is based on reliable data 2. A strength is the real-life application  An increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to development of psychoactive drugs  Although these drugs are not effective for all patients, they have revolutionised treatment for many  This is a strength because it means that sufferers are able to live relatively normal lives 3. A limitation is that causal conclusions about neurotransmitters are difficult to establish  It is often assumed that neurotransmitters are the cause of many mental disorders since drug studies show that that a change in neurotransmitter levels reduces symptoms of many disorders  However, this is like assuming that the cause of a headache is a lack of paracetamol simply because it is effective in relieving the symptoms  This is a limitation because the approach is claiming to have discovered causations where only an association exists 4. Another limitation is that the approach is determinist  The approach is determinist in that it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological forces in which we have no control  However, this is at odds with the legal system which likes to put moral responsibility on the offender  Such research may have negative implications for wider society as criminals may be able to excuse their behaviour 5. A final limitation is the difficulty of separating nature and nurture  Identical twins, non-identical twins family members all have genetic similarities, so any similarity in behaviour must be genetic from a biological perspective  However, the fact that family members are exposed to similar environmental conditions is an important confounding variable  This is a problem for the approach because findings could just as easily be interpreted as supporting nurture rather than nature...