describe and evaluate the biological approach 16 marks

key assumptions

views humans as biological organisms explain human behaviour in terms of physical factors including genetics the central nervous system and biochemistry (define each )

genetic basis of behaviour

behaviour is influenced by genes inherited from parents different genes may pre-dispose individuals to certain behaviours and psychological disorders

Evolution

behaviour has evolve through natural selection because behaviours increased survival and reproductive success and more likely to be passed on to future generation. Adaptive behaviours are therefore more likely to survive.

biological structures

The behaviour influenced by structure and function of the brain and nervous system. For example different brain areas are associated with a different function functions and damage to particular areas can affect behaviour

Neuro chemistry

behaviour is influenced by neurotransmitters which transmit signals across sign up says between neurons for example low levels of serotonin associated with depression

advantage one hint Effective treatment treatments for mental illness

And increased understanding of the role of neurotransmitters has led to the development of effective treatments for mental illness meaning The approaches practical applications

SSR eyes are antidepressants that increase the availability of serotonin in the brain and I used to treat depression

They suggest the approaches useful as improved treatments and people quality of life

advantage to hint scientific methods

The approach is a scientific method of investigation which are largely objective and precise

Brain scanning techniques like FMRI allow researchers to measure brain activity while genetic studies can investigate links Between genes and behaviour

This increases a scientific credibility of the approach because my findings can be objectively measured replicated and tested

disadvantage one hint evolutionary

The approach is Limited in that it relies on evolutionary explanations

Evolutionary explanations can be difficult to test because researchers can’t directly observe the evolutionary history of a behaviour. They may also develop explanations after the behaviour has already occurred.

This means some evolutionary explanations may be speculative reducing their scientific credibility

disadvantage two hint reductionist

The biological approaches highly reductionist

This is because it explains behaviour in terms of biological factors like genes, brain structures and neurotransmitters what potentially ignoring the influence of cognitive processes in the social environment

Therefore the approach may provide an incomplete explanation of behaviour. An interactionist approach may be more holistic because it considers how biological environmental factors work together.

(also, the approach is deterministic)