The biological approach

Assumptions

The biological approach suggests that everything psychological is at first biological and that all human behaviour has a biological origin. This means that the mind lives within the brain and is not separate as stated in the cognitive approach.

The neurochemical basis of behaviour

• Neurochemistry refers to the action of chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning

• Much of our thoughts 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 disorder, for example low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in OCD and overproduction of dopamine in schizophrenia

The genetic basis of behaviour

• Research suggest that behavioural or psychological characteristics can be inherited

• Twin Studies are used to investigate whether certain psychological characteristics have a genetic basis. This is achieved by analysing concordance rates —> The extent to which twins share the same characteristics

• If a characteristic is genetic, we would expect all identical (Monozygotic) Twins to be concordant whereas the same would not be true for non-identical (Dizygotic) Twins who share about 50% of the same genes

Genotype and phenotype

• A persons genotype is a particular set of genes they possess. It’s their actual genetic make-up whereas the phenotype is the way the genes are expressed with physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics. The phenotype is Determined by inherited factors and the environment

• Despite having the same genes, The way identical twins’ phenotype is expressed is different

Evolution and behaviour

• Genes Are the mechanism through which evolution takes place

• The theory of natural selection by Charles Darwin states that characteristics providing an evolutionary advantage are passed from one generation to the next whilst behaviours that don’t enhance survival ,die.

Strengths

• One strength of the biological approach is that it has real world Application - increased understanding of neuro chemical processes in the brain is associated with the use of psychoactive drugs to treat serious mental disorders . for example the biological approach has promoted the treatment of clinical depression using anti depressants drugs that increase the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin at synopses in the brain

• One strength is that it uses scientific method of investigation - In order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, The biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly objective method. These includes scanning techniques such as MRI and EEG. With advances in technology, it is possible to accurately measure psychological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias

Limitations

• One limitation is that the biological approach is determinist - The biological approach is determinist in that it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, genetic causes over which we have no control. however we have already seen that the way in which an individuals genotype is expressed is heavily influenced by the environment. This suggests that biological views are often too simplistic and ignore the mediating effects of the environment.

• One limitation is that causation is often strongly implied in the explanations that focus on brain structures