biological approach ao1

key assumptions of biological approach

• all behaviour has a physical basis

• brain and nervous system determine behaviour

• behaviour can be inherited

• behaviours common in humans today have evolved

• scientific methods important in research

darwin theory of evolution

• always slight genetic mutations within gene pool

• if variation better enables individual to survive, they will reproduce and pass them on

• ones without it die

• over time, advantageous traits become common in the population

cosmides and tooby

• applied evolutionary theory to psychology

• phobias caused because they were threats in ancestral environment

• ancestors avoided threats

• DNA contains biological preparedness to develop phobias of them

genotype

• individuals genetic makeup

phenotype

• observable characteristics/behaviours that result from interaction between genotype and environment

empirical evidence

• evidence collected from testable, observable, verifiable experiments which collect quantifiable data