1. Starter
In pairs write up a PEEL evaluation for the behavioural approach or Social Learning Theory.
Make it nice and big.
E.g
The behaviourist approach is reductionist.
This is because it focuses on observable behaviour and mainly studies animals such as rats and pigeons. It views human behaviour as no different from animals and focuses on simple stimulus-response associations.
The problem with this is that it simplifies human behaviour and in doing so ignores the complex cognitions and emotions that drive behaviour.

2. The Biological Approach

3. What are the Approaches
Different ways of explaining behaviour
Each approach is deterministic (except the humanistic approach)
But the determinants of behaviour, according to each approach, are different.
Each approach uses different methodology to collect data.
Each one was dominant at a different time in history.

4. Biological approach We inherit genes that can influence our behaviour.
The structure of our brain can influence our behaviour
The chemicals (neurotransmitters) released in our brain can influence our behaviour.
If mental illness has a biological basis it can be treated with biological treatments.
Certain behaviours have a strong evolutionary basis – this means they exist because they served an important function in our evolutionary past.
Find out the definitions for the following terms on page 2

5. The Genetic Basis of Behaviour
Biological psychologists believe that behavioural characteristics such as intelligence, personality and mental illnesses are inherited in the same way physical characteristics are e.g. eye colour.
Question: Do you believe that intelligence is passed down through your genes? For example, did Einstein inherit his high IQ?
Justify your choice.
How this characteristic develop partly depends on the interaction of the gene with other genes and partly the environment (nature vs nurture debate).

6. What is more important genes or environment?

7. Nature
Nature = Our genetic make up. Inherited characteristics from our parents
We inherit 23 pairs of chromosomes.
humans have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes. Every person has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent.
The idea is that we are born with all our potential skills and abilities in place.
Development is a process of maturation.

8. Nurture We are born a blank slate
The environment is most important in our personality, behaviour and abilities.
Our culture, society, upbringing, education, conditioning, experiences are what is important.

9. The Biological Approach focuses on Nature
Biology
Genes
Brain structure
Neurotransmitters
Evolution

10. Genetic Basis of Behaviour
Twin studies are used to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour.
Monozygotic Twins (MZ)
One egg which later splits into two, so the twins have identical genetic information. (100% of their genotype)
Dizygotic Twins (DZ)
Two eggs and two sperms make two foetus which inhabit the uterus at the same time, meaning they share half genetic material. (50% of their genotype)

11. Genetic Basis of Behaviour
Concordance rates between twins are calculated
Question: What is meant by the term concordance rates between twins…
A concordance rate is the % chance of one twin having a particular characteristic (i.e. schizophrenia), if the other twin has it(the extent to which twins share the same characteristics).
Higher concordance rates among identical twins (monozygotic, MZ) twins than non-identical (dizygotic, DZ) twins is evidence for a genetic basis.

12. Genetic Basis of Behaviour
What does the bar graph to the left show about the relationship between genetics and schizophrenia?
Challenge: How far do you think this data is valid?
Gottesman (1991)

13. Task
Complete page 3 in your workbook

14. Why start with Twin studies?….. Explain
Twin studies (eg. Gottesman, 1991) have identified strong concordance rates:
OCD: 68% of MZ twins both have OCD compared to 31% of DZ twins.
Schizophrenia
MZ = 0.48 (48% risk)
DZ = 0.17 (17% risk)
General Population = 0.01 (1% risk)
Point of interest: If your partner has schizophrenia your risk is twice that of the general population (2%: can you suggest why?)

15. The Biological Basis of Behaviour
Genotype
This is our genetic make up
The inherited material from our parents.
genes that code for being tall.
Phenotype
This is how the genes are expressed (observable characteristics)
Your phenotype is your outward appearance and is influenced by environmental factors
The Genotype can only be known from studying a person’s genetic code since everyone we observe is a Phenotype.

16. Genotype and phenotype
for example
identical adult twins usually look slightly different because one has exercised more or one has dyed their hair. – so despite having the same genes the way identical twins genes are expressed (the phenotype) is different.
Complete pages 8-10 answering the exam questions

17. The Jim Twins

18. Exam practice
Rita and Holly are identical twins who were separated at birth. When they finally met each other at the age of 35, they were surprised at how different their personalities were. Rita is much more social and out-going than Holly.
Use your knowledge of genotypes and phenotypes to explain this difference in their personalities (4 marks)

19. Mark scheme
Holly and Rita have identical genotype as they are MZ twins.
They have the predisposition to develop the same personalities as each other unless another factor(s) intervenes.
For them to have developed different personalities over time, this must have been influenced by being in different environments.
Their phenotypes – personalities achieved – are different, presumably because Rita was encouraged to be sociable and lively and Holly was not.

20. Biological Structures and Behaviour: additional reading
Complete the reading on biological structures and complete the tasks on page 6.

21. Biological Structures

22. Raine investigated whether the brains of murderers were different from non-murderers.
A sample of 41 violent murderers NGRI
Used PET scans
The IV was whether the participants was a ‘normal’ non-murderer or a murderer who had plead ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’.
The DV was whether the participant showed evidence of brain dysfunction in their prefrontal cortex and other areas such as the angular gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and corpus callosum.
The study used a matched participants design. Participants were matched on age and gender and the six schizophrenics in the experimental group were matched with six schizophrenic controls (‘normal’, non-murderers) who had not committed murder.
Summary of Murderers results
Reduced activity (i.e. reduced glucose metabolism) in some areas, notably the areas previously linked to violence (e.g. the prefrontal cortex, left angular gyrus and corpus callosum).
Abnormal asymmetries: reduced activity on the left, greater activity on the right. This applied to some of the areas identified in the hypothesis as being linked to violence (e.g. the amygdala, thalamus and hippocampus).
No differences in some areas, notably those structures that were associated with mental illness but not violence (e.g. the caudate, putamen, midbrain and cerebellum).
Neural Explanations

23. Raine

24. Neurochemistry A synapse is found between two neurons.
A neurotransmitter is a chemical that is released at a synapse between two neurons.
Neurochemistry
A synapse is found between two neurons.
At the synapse neurotransmitters are released.
Neurotransmitters include dopamine and serotonin.
These neurotransmitter influence our behaviour.
Find out how dopamine and serotonin influence our behaviour.

25. Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that act between the neurones in the brain. This allows the brain to process thoughts and memories.
Neurones receive and transmit messages, passing them from cell to cell.
Dopamine
Serotonin
noradrenaline
Students label the diagram in their pack

26. How Synapses work
You need to be able to explain how messages are passed via neurotransmitters

28. Complete pages 7 and 8 on neurochemistry
Task
Complete pages 7 and 8 on neurochemistry

29. Evolution and Evaluation

30. The Evolution of Behaviour

31. The Evolutionary Basis of behaviour
Modern man and chimps parted company about 6 million years ago.
Modern humans are about 200,000 years old.

32. Evolution Over time organisms adapt to their environment.
The mechanism behind this adaptation is natural selection.
Those who successfully compete for resources and survive will pass on their genes.
These genes that aid survival will then be passed on to the offspring.
Survival of the fittest!

33. Sexual Selection
Darwin suggested that some traits may not have an obvious survival value.
These traits may make an individual more attractive to the opposite sex.
This has an obvious advantage as will result in more mating and more offspring.
Therefore greater survival of your genes.
This is known as sexual selection.

34. Palmer and Tilley (1995) found that male youth street gang members have more sexual partners than ordinary males and Van Nugt (2010) has found that military men who have shown bravery in battle have greater sex appeal.
Conditions such as depression may have had an evolutionary advantage as withdrawal may have resulted in avoiding conflict and so keeping safe.
Anorexia nervosa is thought to have had an evolutionary advantage in the adapted to flee famine hypothesis.

35. Quiz – True/False Evolution involves adapting to the environment.
Evolution involves the breeding of those individuals best suited to survive.
Evolution involves the changes in behaviour from one generation to the next
Sexual selection can explain why some traits may not have an obvious advantage.
Behaviours learnt in one generation can be passed on through genes to the next generation.

36. Evaluation of The biological Approach
Reductionism – this occurs when complex behaviour is reduced to a simplistic explanation. Such as behaviour being reduced down to the neurochemical level of explanation
Nature vs nurture
Research to support the approach and the quality of this research.
Practical applications of the biological approach.

37. Behaviourist (Learning Theory)
Biological Approach
Cognitive approach
Basic assumptions about human behaviour
Method of research
Example of research in this area
Strengths of the approach
Weakness of the approach

38. Strengths
The importance of the Scientific Approach
The Biological Approach uses the Scientific method particularly the use of the Experiment method, as its main method of investigation. Experimental studies take place in highly controlled environments so that other researchers are able to replicate studies under the same conditions thus improving the reliability and validity of the original findings.
Real Life Application
A strength of the Biological Approach is that is provides clear predictions about the effects of biology on behaviour. This has led to significant applications in the real world for example research into the neurochemical imbalance in depression has led to the development of drug treatments which can lessen symptoms. Similarly research into circadian rhythms and their effect on Psychological wellbeing has led to improvements in working conditions.
Limitations
Biological Reductionism
Reductionism is the belief that complex human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into its smallest component parts, such as the action of genes, neurochemicals and hormones. The Reductionist approach is useful as it enables scientific investigation however others argue this simplistic approach means we cannot fully understand a behaviour without taking into account all potential influences. For example research into neurochemical imbalances suggests these are the main cause of psychological disorders however this ignores cognitive, cultural and emotional factors which are known to influence abnormal behaviour.
Drawing causal conclusions
The Biological approach offers explanations for behaviour in terms of Biological processes. This means it assumes that a specific Biological process has or will cause a behaviour. Research however often cannot prove that Biology is the true cause of that behaviour as it only discovers an association or relationship between two factors and correlation does not always mean causation. This can be particularly problematic from studies showing that a particular drug reduces symptoms of a disorder and thus assuming that the neurochemical in the drug is the cause of the disorder. A simple example of this would be assuming that because paracetamol relieves headaches then a lack of paracetamol causes headaches
We cannot separate Nature from Nurture
The Biological Approach has difficulty in investigating the true influence of nature on behaviour. Similarities in identical twins, non-identical twins and family members are argued to be down to genetics however there is an important confounding variable as they are also exposed to similar environmental conditions. It is therefore difficult to conclude that findings whether findings of such studies are down to nature or Nurture. This therefore challenges the validity of theory and research within the Biological approach

39. Comparing the assumptions
How confident are you at comparing the Learning, Cognitive and Biological approaches at this stage?
Explain two differences between the Learning and Cognitive approach (6 marks)
Explain two ways in which the behaviourist and social learning theory overlap (6 marks)

40. Ensure you can answer these questions Use your notes and your text books
Explain at least two assumption from the biological approach
Outline the at least 1 contributor to the biological approach – outline their research as well
How far does the biological approach fit the ‘science’ definition? Ensure you evaluate the methods used
Using an example, explain the difference between a genotype and a phenotype
Discuss how the Biological approach has contributed to our understanding of human behaviour – (think OBF)

41. A01 Biological quiz What can you remember?
1.List three aspects of biology that the biological approach to psychology examines 2. Explain the difference between genotype and phenotype 3. What is the term used for identical twins? 4. Explain what a concordance rate shows? 5. Research on MZ twins who are identical rarely finds a concordance rate of 100%. What does this suggest about behaviour? 6. Define Evolution 7. Darwin suggested that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will continue in future generations. This is a theory of….

42. Answers
1. Genetics, The central nervous system, which comprises the brain and spinal cord. The chemistry of the bod 2. Genotype- individuals genetic make up which dictates characteristics. Phenotype- The way a gene is expressed through physical, behavioural and environmental factors 3. Monozygotic twins 4. The likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis. It compares the extent to which both twins share the same characteristic. 5. It seems behaviour could be a mix of both genetics and the environment 6. The changes in inherited characteristics in a biological population over successive generations. 7. Natural Selection

43. Key terms – page 2 Genotype is our inherited genetic identity.
Phenotype is our observable characteristics. These are determined by our genotype and environmental influences.
Monozygotic Twins are identical twins that share 100% of their genotype
Dizygotic twins are non-identical and may be different sexes. They share 50% of their genotype.
Concordance rates are the likelihood that twins will share a characteristic. For example the concordance rate for eye colour in MZ twins would be 100%.