Biological Approach revision notes, summarising the information perfect to prepare for exams. Focuses on the assumptions, family and twin studies, concordance rates, neurochemistry and biological structures as well as the evaluation points for this approach.
Biological Approach
Main Assumptions
Influence of genes
Family Studies
Twin Studies
Concordance Rates
Neurochemistry
Biological structures and behaviour
Genotype
Phenotype
Evolution
Evaluation of the biological approach
Practical Applications
Scientific
Causal Conclusions
Deterministic
Reductionist
Difficult to separate nature and nurture - genetic
It emphasises the importance of scientific investigation through the use of
experiments and other empirical methods to study the relationship between
biological factors and behaviour.
Main Assumptions
Behaviour is due to a physical cause
Genetics
Biochemistry (neurotransmitters)
Neurochemistry (brain structures)
Nervous system
Abnormal behaviour can be treated by drugs (ECT and surgery in extreme
cases)
Neuroanatomy is studied using brain-imaging
Influence of genes
Biological Approach 1
, Genes are inherited
Chromosomes are the DNA code for physical features and psychological
features
How we study it?
Family and Twin studies - we examine the concordance rates to assess
influence
Gene-Mapping - to identify particular genes more likely to appear in a person
with a certain disorder than without.
Family Studies
1st degree relatives - 50% genes are shared
2nd degree relatives - 25% genes are shared
Nestadt et al 2000
1st degree relative of OCD sufferers had 11.7% chance of also having
OCD
Compared to the general population only having 2.7% chance
Therefore it is seen that OCD has a genetic basis → those with the
gene are more likely to have it.
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