the biological approach

Created by: IvyVega
Created on: 25-05-18 15:22

everything psychological is at first biological

if we want to fully understand human behaviour we must look to biological structures and processes within the body, such as genes, neurochemistry and the nervous system.

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behaviour has a genetic and neurochemical basis.

behaviours are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics such as height or eye colour. neurochemistry also explains behaviour.

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the mind and body are one and the same

from a biological perspective, the mind lives in the brain- meaning that all thoughts, feelings and behaviour ultimately have a physical basis. this is in contrast to the cognitive approach which sees the mind as separate from the brain.

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twin studies are used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour

concordance rates between twins are calculated- the extent to which twins share the same characteristic. higher concordance rates among identical twins than non-identical twins is evidence of a genetic basis.

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the difference between genotype and phenotype

a persons genotype is their actual genetic make-up. phenotype is the way that genes are expressed through physical, behavioural and psychological characteristics. the expression of genotype is influenced by environmental factors.

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the theory of evolution is used by the biological approach to explain many aspects of behaviour.

any genetically determined behaviour that enhances survival and reproduction will be passed on to future generations. charles darwin propsed the theory of natural selection.

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strength 1- real-life application

increased understanding of biochemical processes in the brain has led to the development of psychoactive drugs that treat serious mental disorders. although these drugs are not effective for all patients, they have revolutionised treatment for many.

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limitation 1- based on a determinist

it sees behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control.

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strength 2- use of scientific methods of investigation

include scanning techniques and drug trails. it is possbile to accurately measure biological and neural processes in ways that are not open to bias. reliable data.

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behaviours are inherited in the same way as physical characteristics such as height or eye colour. neurochemistry also explains behaviour.

Back

behaviour has a genetic and neurochemical basis.

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the biological approach