5. biological approach

0.0(0)
studied byStudied by 0 people
learnLearn
examPractice Test
spaced repetitionSpaced Repetition
heart puzzleMatch
flashcardsFlashcards
Card Sorting

1/10

encourage image

There's no tags or description

Looks like no tags are added yet.

Study Analytics
Name
Mastery
Learn
Test
Matching
Spaced

No study sessions yet.

11 Terms

1
New cards

assumptions

  • everything psychological is at first biological

  • investigates how biological structures and processes within the body impacts behaviour

  • much of human behaviour has a physiological cause which may be genetically or environmentally altered

  • the mind lives in the brain (contrasts cognitive approach which sees mental processes of the mind as being separate from the physical brain)

2
New cards

genetic basis of behaviour

  • genes possessed influence behaviour

  • born with 23 pairs of chromosomes inherited from birth parents - genotype, forming basis of our behaviour

  • genes carry instructions for particular characteristics eg intelligence, personality and mental disorders

  • how these characteristics develop depends partly on the interaction with other genes and the environment

3
New cards

twin studies

  • monozygotic twins have identical genes (can see how environment effects)

  • dizygotic have 50% identical genes

4
New cards

genotype vs phenotype

  • genotype = particular set of genes an individual possesses

  • phenotype = characteristics of an individual determined by both genes and the environment

genotype + environment = phenotype

human behaviour depends upon an interaction between inherited factors (nature) and the environment (nurture)

5
New cards

effect of evolution on behaviour

evolution = changes in inherited characteristics over successive generations

  • human behaviours and physical characteristics exist because they are adaptive

  • eg aggression - would have been advantageous for ancestors as it created protection for family and resources, attractive to opposite sex making likelihood of passing on the gene much greater

  • over time it becomes more widespread

6
New cards

influence of neurochemistry on behaviour

neurochemistry = biochemistry of the CNS

hormones = chemicals that travel through bloodstream

  • in brain, transmission of chemicals is via the cerebral fluid by neurotransmitters

  • they are viewed to effect behaviour

  • eg high levels of dopamine is related to schizophrenia

7
New cards

evaluation

  • scientific methods

  • biologically determinist

  • application (& COUNTERPOINT)

8
New cards

scientific methods

  • uses range of precise and highly objective measures ie brain scanning (fMRIs and EEGs) and measuring biochemical levels 

  • thus possible to accurately measure biological and neural processes in a way not subject to bias

  • adds credibility to the approach as it is evidence based and rigorous

9
New cards

biologically determinist

  • it assumes behaviour is governed by genertic and biological factors, ignoring environmental influences

  • this view is reductionist as it oversimplifies complex behaviours, such as criminality by attributing them soley to supposed crime genes

  • raises ethical concerns as this could excuse harmful behaviours due to overly deterministic nature

10
New cards

real world application

  • understanding neurochemical processes has led to treatments for disorders like depression

  • eg antidepressants like SSRIs that increase seratonin at synapses

  • treatments reduce symptoms of depression allowing individuals to lead relatively normal lives

11
New cards

counterpoint

  • antidepressants are not effective for all

  • research (CIPRIANI ET AL 2013) shows that while they are more effective than placebos in clinical trials, their effect size is ‘mainly modest’

  • means the approach may oversimplify depression, failing to account for environmental or psychological factors