AQA Psychology (A-Level) - Approaches
- Biological Approach Latest 2023
Graded A+
Assumptions ✔✔• everything psychological has a biological basis.
• our biology is determined by evolution & genetics.
• investigate t
...
AQA Psychology (A-Level) - Approaches
- Biological Approach Latest 2023
Graded A+
Assumptions ✔✔• everything psychological has a biological basis.
• our biology is determined by evolution & genetics.
• investigate the mind, we must investigate the physical brain.
What does the biological approach state ✔✔Everything is at first biological, to study human
behaviour we must first observe biological structures,
Physical basis ✔✔the mind lives in the brain meaning all thoughts, feelings and behaviour has a
physical basis, different to the cognitive approach that sees the mind as separate to the brain
Genetic basis ✔✔Behaviour geneticists study whether behavioural characteristics (intelligence,
personality) is inherited the same way as physical characteristics.
Genetic basis of behaviour - Alleles DELETE ✔✔• different forms of the same gene in different
people alleles.
• contribute to each persons unique features.
Genotype ✔✔refers to the genes an organism has inherited. (eye colour)
Phenotype ✔✔refers to the way genes are expressed through physical behaviour and
psychological characteristics (shyness)
twin studies ✔✔Used to determine the extent to which some characteristics have a genetic basis
by comparing the extent to which both twins have the same characteristics.
twin studies- concordance rate ✔✔Higher concordance rates between identical (monozygotic)
twins than non (dizygotic) twins tend to be taken as evidence of a genetic basis
what are monozygotic twins ✔✔• are identical & share 100% similarity of their genetic material
what are dizygotic twins ✔✔• non-identical & share about 50% similarity of genetic material
Natural selection ✔✔Proposed by Charles Darwin. States any genetic behaviour that enhances
survival gets passed on to the next generation
They are called adaptive as they give the possessor certain advantages
Strengths of biological approach ✔✔- supporting evidence of genetic explanation:
twin studies, McGuffin conducted a twin study on depression & found a concordance rate for
46% MZ & 20% DZ
- Has real life applications increased understanding of the brain has led to the development of
drugs that treat mental disorders
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