Today’s session You will learn how to...You will learn about... Describe the assumptions of psychological approaches Describe and apply psychological approaches & theories Describe and evaluate the methods used in psychological approaches The Biological Approach Methods used by the biological approach

Assumptions All behaviour arises from the functioning of the nervous system. The development of the NS is determined (at least partly) by the genes a person inherits, so that behaviour may be influenced by genetic factors. The genes we inherit are the result of evolution, behavioural and psychological characteristics may have evolutionary explanations.

Assumptions Psychology should use scientific method Where do these assumptions place the Biological approach on the debates? Nature-Nurture Free-Will Determinism

Specification: Biological Approach: Assumptions and distinguishing features The influence of genes; genotype and phenotype; Biological structures; The evolution of behaviour; Methods used by the Biological approach

Do genes cause behaviours?

Genetic influences Gene Behaviour

Genetic influences Gene Behaviour ProteinNS Structure Process

Genetic influences Gene Behaviour NS Gene Other Environ- ment

Methods Experiments Correlations Observation Genetic research (risk/concordance) Family studies Twin Studies Adoption studies Co-twin studies

History of the Biological Approach Harlow (1848) Phineas Gage brain injury case study

Darwin (1859) “On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection” formulated through the observation of animals while travelling the world. Jane Goodall (1959) studied chimpanzees in Africa, learning that they share behaviours with humans everywhere. Edward Wilson (1975) published “Sociobiology”, bringing together the evolutionary perspective Tooby and Cosmides (1992) publish the essay “The Psychological Foundations of Culture ”

Neurological research Non-invasive methods Scans: MRI, fMRI, PET, CAT Invasive methods Surgery, Electrical/chemical stimulation Post-mortem examination

Comparative Psychology One key assumption of the biological approach is that different species of animal can be studied and compared. Do you think that there is a continuity of behaviour between people and animals?

Facial Expressions

Fairness Ark Ark

Universal features E.G. Gender – Cross-cultural research e.g. Mead, Buss. What do universal features found in all cultures, or across species, suggest about the biological basis of behaviour, and evolutionary theory?

Distinguishing Features What are the features of the biological Approach that distinguish it from other approaches?

Distinguishing features Nervous System determines behaviour Role of Genetics in behaviour Role of Evolution in behaviour Continuity of underlying causes of behaviour

Reflection I used to think..... Now I think..... I wonder.....

Preparatory Reading Gender Concepts Are sex and gender the same thing? What did Sandra Bem find out about masculine and feminine traits?