The Biological Approach

What does the biological approach assume?

All psychological behaviours have a biological root at their core

What is the genetic basis of behaviour?

The genetic basis of behaviour refers to the notion that behaviours can be explained through genes that have been inherited. As well as physical traits such as eye colour and height, it refers to the belief that behavioural characteristics such as intelligence, aggression or mental health can also be inherited.

What is a genotype?

genetic makeup of an organism

What is a phenotype?

physical characteristics of an organism

When is a person's genotype determined?

At conception

What did Buss (1989) do?

He studied 37 different cultures to determine human mate preference variations

What did Buss (1989) find?

He found universal similarities in human mate preferences

Women desired males with resources (to provide offspring) and men desired young, physically attractive women (an indicator of their fertility)

What mechanism is involved in biological evolution?

Natural selection

How does the biological approach being deterministic act as a limitation of the approach?

- the biological approach is determinist in the sense that it views human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control

- for example, it suggests that mental disorders are caused by genetic or biochemical imbalances rather than free choice

- this view can have real-world consequences e.g in the criminal justice system, where offenders may argue they weren't responsible for their actions

- this means that the biological approach may be too deterministic, ignoring the role of free will in behaviour

How does the methods of research act as a strength for the biological approach?

- in order to investigate the genetic and biological basis of behaviour, the biological approach makes use of a range of precise and highly scientific methods

- techniques such as brain scanning, family/twin studies and drug trials are all used

- these methods are objective and reliable, producing accurate and replicable data

- this gives the biological approach strong scientific credibility

How does an increased understanding of the biochemical processes in the brain act as a strength for the biological approach?

- increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental illnesses, such as depression

- for instance, antidepressants (SSRIs) are used to regulate serotonin levels in people with depression

- this has helped many patients manage their condition and live relatively normal lives

- this shows the biological approach has real-world application and practical benefits

How does an overemphasis on genetics act as a limitation of the biological approach?

- identical twins, non-identical twins and members of the same family all have genetic similarities, thus the biological approach argues any similarities are attributed to genetics

- however, family members also share environments, so similarities may be due to nurture rather than nature

- for example, higher concordance rates for schizophrenia in identical twins compared to non-identical twins may not be 100% genetic as MZ twins are treated more similarly

- this means the biological approach may overemphasise genetics and underestimate environmental influences