BIOLOGICAL APPROACH

Question 1

State the 2 assumptions of the biological approach

Answer 1

1- Behaviour, cognitions and emotions can be explained in terms of the working of the brain and the effect of hormones, genetics and evolution
2- Similarities and differences between people can be understood in terms of biological factors and their interaction with other factors

Question 2

Methods of investigating this approach

Answer 2

• Lab experiments
• Observations
• Correlations

Question 3

Explain one finding from Dement and Kleitman that supports one assumption

Answer 3

• Supports the first assumption
• the rapid eye movement stage in sleep has shown to be strongly correlated to dreaming as it was reported 152 dreams were recalled in this stage and only 11 dreams were recalled in NREM

Question 4

Explain one finding from Holzel et al that supports one assumption

Answer 4

• Supports assumption 2
• there were differences in the control group to the exp. group and this was perhaps due to a correlation between taking the mindfulness training and changes in the grey matter concentration with scores increasing

Question 5

Explain one finding from Hassett that supports one assumption

Answer 5

EITHER
- Assumption 1: The effects of hormones played a role in toy preferences as the only difference between the monkeys was their gender. As well as there being no socialisation of human toys to the monkeys
- Assumption 2: Differences between males and females toy preferences can be due to biological factors

Question 6

State 4 strengths

Answer 6

+ Supports the nature side of the debate as it goes on to show how biological predispositions, hormones and genes determine thoughts, feelings and behaviours
+ The approach is very scientific in that the measures were objective
+ It is useful and applicable to psychologists e.g in aspects of localisation of the brain abnormality and child development
+ They utilise apparatus such as PET scans, MRI, EEG e.t.c

Question 7

State 3 weaknesses of th

Answer 7

• ignores the effect of nurture
• They are over simplistic and over simplify our physical systems
• It is considered reductionist as it assumes a cause and effect relationship (most are correlational)
• subjective readings