The Biological Approach

What is the biological approach?

An approach that explains behaviour through physical factors, such as genes, hormones, brain structure and brain chemistry.

What are the key assumptions of the biological approach?

Behaviour has a physical basis; the brain and nervous system influence behaviour; behaviour can be inherited; behaviours may have evolved to aid survival; and scientific methods are important.

What is natural selection?

Individuals with genetic variations that improve survival and reproduction are more likely to pass these genes on. Over generations, advantageous traits become more common.

What is evolutionary psychology?

The application of evolutionary theory to explain human behaviour, suggesting that some behaviours evolved because they helped our ancestors survive or reproduce.

What is genotype?

An individual's genetic makeup.

What is phenotype?

Observable characteristics or behaviours resulting from the interaction between genotype and the environment.

How can the environment influence phenotype?

Environmental factors can affect whether a genetic predisposition is expressed. For example, a person may have genes associated with musical ability, but access to instruments and teaching can influence its development.

What is biological preparedness?

An inherited predisposition to develop certain responses, such as fears of threats that may have endangered our ancestors.

What is the nervous system?

The body's electrochemical communication system. Neurons transmit signals between the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the body.

What does the biological approach mean by determinism?

The idea that behaviour is determined by biological factors, potentially limiting free will and personal responsibility.

What did Charles Darwin (1809–1882) argue?

Genetic variations that help individuals survive and reproduce are more likely to be passed on, so advantageous traits become more common over time.

How does the example of giraffes illustrate natural selection?

Giraffes with longer necks could reach more food, helping them survive and reproduce. They passed on their genes, making longer necks more common.

How did Cosmides and Tooby (1992) contribute to the biological approach?

They applied evolutionary theory to psychology, helping develop evolutionary explanations of behaviour.

How does Seligman explain common phobias?

Fears of snakes, spiders, heights and similar threats may reflect biological preparedness because these could have endangered our ancestors.

What is one criticism of evolutionary explanations?

They may rely on inferences about ancestral environments rather than directly testable evidence, leaving explanations open to speculation and researcher bias.

What did Lacy and Ocobock (2021) argue?

They challenged gendered assumptions in hunter-gatherer research, including the assumption that men hunted while women gathered. They argued that evidence did not justify automatically attributing tools and weapons to men.

How can twin studies support the biological approach?

Researchers compare the prevalence of a disorder in identical and non-identical twins. Findings can provide evidence for genetic influences on behaviour.

How has biological research contributed to depression treatment?

It has contributed to drug treatments such as SSRIs, which affect serotonin signalling and can help treat depression.

AO3: Why is the biological approach considered scientific?

It uses objective, measurable methods such as brain scans, genetic testing and biochemical analysis. These can reduce researcher bias and improve the reliability of findings.

AO3: Why can evolutionary psychology lack scientific credibility?

Some explanations rely on assumptions about ancestral environments that cannot be directly tested or observed. This can make them speculative and difficult to falsify.

AO3: Why is the biological approach reductionist?

It can oversimplify complex behaviour by explaining it solely through genes, brain structure or neurochemistry. For example, explaining depression only through serotonin ignores cognitive, social and environmental influences.

AO3: What is a practical strength of the biological approach?

Biological research has contributed to treatments for mental health conditions, including SSRIs for depression. This demonstrates the practical value of understanding biological mechanisms.

AO3: How can family and twin studies support the biological approach?

They can provide evidence for genetic influences by comparing how frequently behaviours or disorders occur among relatives with different degrees of genetic similarity.

AO3: Why is biological determinism a weakness?

It can underestimate free will and personal responsibility by suggesting that biological factors determine behaviour.

AO3: What ethical issues can biological research raise?

Brain scans and genetic tests can raise concerns about consent, privacy and the potential misuse of personal biological data.

AO3: Why might the biological approach underestimate the environment?

It focuses on genetic and biological influences, potentially overlooking upbringing and life experiences that also affect behaviour.

AO3: Why might the biological approach struggle to explain individual differences?

People with similar biological characteristics may behave differently, suggesting that biological factors alone cannot explain all behaviour.

AO3: How does the biological approach link to other disciplines?

It connects psychology with medicine and genetics and has contributed to cognitive neuroscience, encouraging interdisciplinary research.

What is cognitive neuroscience?

It investigates the neurobiological basis of thought processes and psychological disorders, combining cognitive psychology with neuroscience.

What does an fMRI scan measure?

Changes in blood flow in the brain, showing which areas become active during specific tasks.

What does a PET scan measure?

Activity in different brain areas by tracking radioactive markers.

What did Blakemore (1988) learn from studying Clive Wearing?

Damage to Wearing's hippocampus helped demonstrate the hippocampus's role in transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Which brain areas are associated with OCD

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and caudate nucleus. Increased activity in these areas may help explain obsessive thoughts and behaviours.

AO3: How does neuroplasticity support interactionism?

The brain can change in response to learning, education and rehabilitation. This shows that experiences can alter the brain, so biology does not completely determine behaviour.

AO3: What is a limitation of brain imaging?

Brain scans can show an association between brain activity and behaviour, but cannot always establish that the activity causes the behaviour.

AO3: What ethical issue could arise from using fMRI for lie detection?

It could threaten privacy and informed consent, and brain activity patterns may not reliably indicate whether someone is lying.