Biological Biological ApproachApproach

Key PrinciplesKey PrinciplesBy Lauren BinningtonBy Lauren Binnington

Learning outcomesLearning outcomes

We are looking to gain an We are looking to gain an understanding of what the key understanding of what the key features are because these underpin features are because these underpin our theories and therapiesour theories and therapies

We will also look at the principles of We will also look at the principles of the biological level of analysisthe biological level of analysis

What are the key features What are the key features underlying biological underlying biological

psychology?psychology?

What are the key features What are the key features underlying biological underlying biological

psychology?psychology?

What are the key features What are the key features underlying biological underlying biological

psychology?psychology?

What are the key features What are the key features underlying biological underlying biological

psychology?psychology?

Features – Features – Nature/Nurture?Nature/Nurture?

Gender Gender Religion Religion Skin colour Skin colour Accent Accent Intelligence (IQ) Intelligence (IQ) Hair colour Hair colour Humour Humour

Blood type Blood type Shoe size Shoe size Height Height Weight Weight AggressivenessAggressiveness Artistic abilityArtistic ability

PrinciplesPrinciples

Behaviour is genetically influencedBehaviour is genetically influenced

Animal research can provide insight Animal research can provide insight into human behaviourinto human behaviour

Behaviour has a physiological causeBehaviour has a physiological cause

Behaviour is genetically Behaviour is genetically influenced- Questionsinfluenced- Questions

What are genes?What are genes?

How do we get them?How do we get them?

What do they do?What do they do?

Are they unique?Are they unique?

What about the environment?What about the environment?

The influence of our The influence of our genesgenes

Physical characteristics are passed Physical characteristics are passed on via our geneson via our genes

We inherit a unique combination We inherit a unique combination from our parents (50% from our from our parents (50% from our mother and 50% from our father)mother and 50% from our father)

When might we have the same When might we have the same genes as someone else?genes as someone else?

Examples -Examples -

Mednick and Hutchings (1978) found Mednick and Hutchings (1978) found that adopted children with biological that adopted children with biological fathers who were criminals were fathers who were criminals were more likely to become criminals more likely to become criminals themselvesthemselves

Allen (1976) found that identical Allen (1976) found that identical twins showed concordance for major twins showed concordance for major depression 40% of the time.depression 40% of the time.

Animal research can Animal research can provide insight into human provide insight into human

behaviourbehaviour Textbook, page 44Textbook, page 44

Animals are often used in brain researchAnimals are often used in brain research

Hetherington and Hetherington and

Ranson (1942) found Ranson (1942) found

that lesions in the that lesions in the

hypothalamus caused hypothalamus caused

rats to overeat and rats to overeat and

become obesebecome obese

Behaviour has a Behaviour has a physiological causephysiological cause

This states that there are biological This states that there are biological correlates of behaviourcorrelates of behaviour

This means that there is a link This means that there is a link between a specific behaviour and a between a specific behaviour and a specific biological factorspecific biological factor

E.g. Broca’s area and languageE.g. Broca’s area and language