1. The Biological Approach

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Answer the following: True or false – MZ twins are identical
True or False – IQ is determined by genes
Identify two neurotransmitters
Which neurotransmitter is involved in schizophrenia and addiction
What is a synapse?
What is the concordance rate for hair colour in MZ twins?

5. 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%.

6. Genotype
Phenotype BB
Brown eyes
Same phenotype as below but different genotype Bb
Same phenotype as above but different genotype bb
Blue eyes
Different phenotype and genotype from both above

7. The Biological Basis of Behaviour
Genotype
This is our genetic make up
The inherited material from our parents.
Phenotype
This is how the genes are expressed.
Your phenotype is your outward appearance and is influenced by environmental factors

8. What is more important genes or environment?

9. The Nature Nurture Debate
According to the biological approach which is the most important factor in human behaviour?
Justify your answer

10. Nature
Nature = Our genetic make up. Inherited characteristics from our parents
We inherit 23 pairs of chromosomes
The idea is that we are born with all our potential skills and abilities in place.
Development is a process of maturation.

11. 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.

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

13. The Genetic Basis of Behaviour
Page of three workbook
Complete this page
Then complete the reading on biological structures and complete the tasks on page 6.

14. Objectives
To be able to outline the influence of brain structures on behaviour.
To be able to outline the influence of neurochemistry on behaviour.
To provide evidence of these influences.

15. Biological Structures

16. 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

17. Raine

19. 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.

21. Quiz
What part of the brain is involved with behaviour regulation, problem solving and personality?
Which part of the brain was damaged in the Case of HM and what did this lead to?
What did Maguire find out about the brains of black cab drivers?
Is the concordance rate in MZ twins for depression 100%?

22. Next week Quiz first the answer what is the question
Recap on genotype and phenotype and complete the questions and questions on page 9.
Evolutionary approach and evaluation

23. Homework
For Monday please read up on the background of phobias.

24. Before this complete the work on phobias
Group1 – ten minutes teach with evaluation and evaluation of these methods set for homework. From website. Answer one question from the ppt.
Group - give homework to add evaluation from website and complete the questions in class

25. Homework – For Monday
Go over the behavioural approach ready for questions on Monday. Make sure you can evaluate flooding and systematic desensitisation.

26. What is the question?
It is a chemical produced in the brain that regulates mood.
It is a gap between two neurons.
It is another name for the electrical impulse that travels along neurons.
It is an area of the brain involved in personality, motivation and regulation of emotion.
It is an area of the brain that connects the two hemispheres of the brian. Raine found abnormalities in this area in the brains of murderers.

27. Objectives
To be able to describe the evolutionary approach to explaining human behaviour.
To be able to evaluate the biological approach.

28. The Evolution of Behaviour

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

30. 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!

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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

36. Homework 1.
To create an essay plan for a question on the behaviourist approach.
You should be able to describe and evaluate it for 16 marks.
This plan can be brought in on our first Wednesday back and you will write the essay. 2.
Complete page 7,8, 9 of your biological approach workbook. 3.
General revision – write up notes on memory, psychopathology and approaches.

37. Revision
Look through your plan taking into consideration the question.
Revision group quiz
Essay title
Describe and evaluate the behavioural (learning) approach in psychology. (16)
AO1 6
AO3 10