Biological Approach: Assumptions and Brain Localization

Chapter 1: The Biological Approach

Biological Approach Assumptions

  • Specification Requirement: For each approach, it is essential to know and understand the assumptions and apply these assumptions to explain the formation of a relationship. Refer to the 'Triveer' booklet for a psychological example.
Assumption 1: Evolutionary Influences on Behavior
  • The primary assumption of the biological approach is that all behaviors can be explained through the functioning of our biological systems.
  • Strands of the Biological Approach:
    • Physiological Approach: This approach posits that all behavior is attributed to the functioning of internal bodily systems, including the brain, nervous systems, hormones, and chemicals.
    • Nativist Approach: Rooted in the belief that all behavior is inherited; behaviors are passed down through genes from generation to generation.
    • Medical Model: This model refers to the treatment of psychological disorders using the same principles that apply to physical diseases. The argument suggests that psychological issues have physical causes, allowing for medical treatments to be utilized.
Assumption 2: Localization of Brain Function
  • Definition: Localization of brain function refers to the principle whereby specific areas of the brain are responsible for particular functions, each carrying out distinct tasks.
  • The cerebral cortex, akin to how a tea cozy covers a teapot, is the part of the brain associated with higher-order cognitive functions.
Lobes of the Brain
  • The cerebral cortex is divided into four lobes, each associated with various functions:
    • Frontal Lobes: Involved in thinking, creativity, and personality traits.
    • Parietal Lobes: Processes sensory information, including temperature and touch.
    • Temporal Lobes: Responsible for memory processing and auditory information interpretation (including speech).
    • Occipital Lobes: Concerned with visual processing and directly receiving information from the eyes.
Localisation of Language Functions
  • Broca's Area: Discovered by French neurosurgeon Paul Broca in the mid-19th century, this region is located in the posterior portion of the frontal lobe and is linked with speech production. Broca examined patients with language difficulties, finding damage in this specific brain area.
  • Wernicke's Area: Identified by German neurologist Carl Wernicke, it is situated in the posterior section of the left temporal lobe and is associated with the comprehension of language. Patients with damage in this area could produce speech but struggled to understand it.