The Biological Approach Key Person in the study of the Biological Approach: Arnold Gesell

Gesell’s Theory of Maturation A ‘biological unfolding of the individual according to a plan contained in the genes – the hereditary material passed from their parents to their offspring at conception (Shaffer, 1993) So, as soon as you are conceived, you will begin to mature according to your genes

Gesell’s Theory of Maturation Gesell says that a baby begins to mature as soon as it has been conceived. A foetus at 5 weeks A foetus at 39 weeks

Gesell’s theory of Maturation As the child develops from birth onwards, its genes allow it to flower gradually into the person they are meant to be. The environment should provide support for this unfolding of talents, skills, personality, interest etc, but the main thing driving this development is the maturation process. Gesell would say that this child could be encouraged to play the piano, but that it was always part of her biological makeup that she had the skills to play it in the first place. What do you think?

Gesell’s theory of Maturation Nature versus Nurture Is a child born a certain way, or does the nurture it receives encourage it to behave in a certain way and do certain things? Gesell says it’s nature. That our personality and everything about us is determined by our genes. He says that in the right circumstances we can mature to develop to our full potential (self-actualisation!)

Gesell – Developmental Norms Gesell developed an assessment scale to enable judgements to be made about whether a child’s behaviour and understanding matches that of their chronological age. They are expected to be able to perform certain tasks by certain ages, and if they can’t they are not deemed to be maturing properly. Do you think this helpful? Should we develop at the same rate?

The Biological Approach Circadian Rhythms Core Temperature Pineal Gland - Hormone Melatonin

Circadian Rhythms This refers to the idea that we have a body clock. Our bodies do things in a 24-25 hour cycle. Certain physiological things in our bodies do the same thing at the same time every day. Eg: Our core temperature varies When we wake and sleep Our blood pressure varies We have a body clock

Circadian Rhythms – Core Body Temperature Our core body temperature is 36.7 degrees Celsius. However, it varies from 36.1 – 37.2 degrees. When our body temperature is at its warmest we are most alert, and when it’s at its coldest we are least alert and feel sleepy. We are most cold at 4am, and this is when people tend to die in their sleep! How does this affect people who have to work from 10pm-6am?

Circadian Rhythms The Pineal Gland & Melatonin The Pineal Gland produces a hormone called Melatonin. The more Melatonin released, the more sleepy you become. Darkness causes an increase in Melatonin. Lightness causes a decrease in Melatonin. So our circadian rhythm is impacted by external stimuli (eg the light and dark). It is dark and you are feeling very sleepy….

Circadian Rhythms The Biological Approach According to the biological approach, our circadian rhythms influence our behaviour. They cause us to wake & sleep. Do you think it is nature or nurture? Could it be that when we sleep our Melatonin levels rise, or is it that our Melatonin levels rise which causes us to sleep?