The biological approach

The Biological approach

The biological approach sees behaviour as rootd in the physilogy and biology of the body. It examines the bilogical processes that occur and looks at the effect of them on the individual

The assumptions of the biological approach:

• Genes- biological psychologists believe a person's genes are a key influence on behaviour. These genes that shape behaviour are inherited directly from parents but also from our ancestors through the process of evolutionary adaptation
• Biological structures- the human body is a collection of structures which enable us to function and live. Key structures that are especially useful in explaining our behaviour are the brain and the spinal cord, and the structures within the brain-neurons
  • The central nervous system- which comprises the brain and the spinal cord. The brain has many different structures, which influence behaviour in different ways
  • On a microscopic level, neurons are nerve cells inside the brain and the spinal cord which transmit information to each other and between structures

An understanding of brain structure and the functions of neurons is useful in explaining       behaviour

• Neurochemistry- brain chemistry refers to the chemicals that flow through the brain. They are called neurotransmitters and have behavioural effects

The Genetic basis of behaviour

• Behavioural geneticists study the effects of genes on behaviour. They study whether behavioural characteristics are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics like eye colour
• Twin studies are used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates (the extent…