| What is the key assumption 1? | Brain strucutre influences our behaviour |
| What can be seen within key assumption 1? | - The brain and the central nervous system are central to explaining human behaviour
- The physical structure of our brains can cause certain behaviours.
-Eg: Phineas Gage study |
| What is key assumption 2? | Human behaviour is influenced by evolution |
| Examples of key assumption 2? | -fight or flight or the rooting reflex in babies, babies turn their head when something southces their cheek or mouth - helps with breastfeeding.
-Memory could promote survival by remembering important facts to keep us alive, which foods are edible etc.
-Attachment ideas would ensure that you stick with your parent that will allow for your survival |
| What is key assumption 3? | genes influence our behaviour |
| The main components of key assumption 3? | These are carried in our chromosomes
This can be tested using twin studies, using monozygotic and dizygotic twins. If the identical twins show a higher likelihood of sharing behaviours/disorders than non-identical twins then a genetic component is likely |
| What is key assumption 4? | brain chemistry influences our behaviour |
| What are examples of key assumption 4? | Action of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.
Serotonin being transferred through the synapse and being too much being taken up again in the re-uptake valve - possibly causing depression. The role of brain chemistry can be seen within biopsychology as well as depression and OCD. |
| What are genotypes? | Refers to the genetic makeup of an individual and provides a genetic code for how that individual will develop. Each individual has a genotype which is unique to them |
| What is phenotype? | The phenotype of an individual is the product of what happens when the genotype interacts with the environment. It is the physical characteristics we display. |
| A strength of biological approach? | -Research that increases internal vlaidity
-Phenias Gage, metal rod that was in his left eye and into the ventromedial area of pre-frontal cortext, the area that controls impluse and emotional response
-Found that there was a behaviour change with Gage, he went from being very polite and calm to very erratic and rude, behaviour didn't reflect his past self
-Supports key assumotion 1, shows how brain strucutres can lead to a change within the behaviour of humans |
| Another strength of the biological approach? | -Useful real life applications, drug treatments
-Increased understanding of the biochemical process in the brain has lead to the development of drugs to treat mentla illness, like derpession
-Allows for sufferes to be able to live their life and manage their conditon, rather than being in a hospital
-Biological approach can be seen to have high ecological validity which can be applied to real life settings to improve the life of many people. |
| A weakness of the biolocial approach? | -Can be seen to be highly deterministic
-Approach is hard determinism that it sees human behaviour as governed by internal, biological causes over which we have no control over
-Approach doesn't take into account the idea of free will and possible human influence over their own behavioru as they believe that only the brain and genetics can cause human beahviour. Doesnt take into account environmental facotrs
-This approach can be seen as hard determinism as it fails to take into account any other possible factors for a more holisitc approach in the explanation of behaviour. |
