The Role Of The Biological Approach In Explaining Human Behaviours

The biological approach suggests that behaviour is the direct product of interactions within the body. The key assumptions of the biological approach are that there is a direct correlation between brain activity and cognition, a biochemical imbalance can affect behaviour, behaviour can be inherited through the genotype, and brain physiology can affect behaviour. Since the biological approach suggests that human behaviour is shaped within the body first, psychology biologists have scientifically proven that Genes are the genetic information carried by DNA in chromosomes. The genetic information carried by DNA in chromosomes are passed on through generations of a species only if the individuals survive and successfully reproduce. This assumption of the biological approach is in line with Darwin’s theory of evolution, it might also follow that genes form a basis of behaviour, as both behaviour and genes appear to be heritable.

Charles Darwin described this process of natural selection, as characteristics that are not suited to a species’ environment will die out as it struggles to survive, so that only adaptive characteristics remain in future offspring. Psychological biologists also suggest that interactions between regions of the brain help to control different functions, which are assumed to play a significant role in determining and explaining our behaviour. Electrical impulses enable an important means of internal communication that directs our behaviour, travelling around the brain and to/from the body through the nervous system. Impulses are transmitted between neurons at synapses, where neurotransmitters are released that inhibit or excite other neurons to achieve different responses. Neurochemical imbalances in the brain are often associated with abnormal behaviour an example of this is that evidence suggests that an imbalance of serotonin is associated with disorders such as depression. Another communication system that is suggested to play an important role in explaining human behaviour is the endocrine system which is a slower-acting communication system that regulates the circulation of hormones, released by glands into the bloodstream. For example, adrenaline is a key hormone that elicits the fight or flight response within the body, which is still seen as a key evolutionary survival mechanism since the body primes itself for imminent danger.

The biological approach also suggests the involvement of the genotype and phenotype and how it can explain human behaviour. The genotype is used to describe the genetic makeup of an individual, whereas the phenotype describes the effect of the surrounding environment on behaviour/shapes a person’s personality. However, the nature-nurture debate (genotype/phenotype) highlights a key argument in psychology, over the relative influence of biology and environment on the characteristics of an individual and human behaviour.

An extreme biological approach assumes that these are determined solely by nature, rather than nurture. The nature vs nurture debate is why the biological approach uses twin/family to investigate the heritability of behaviour, through the genotype. For example, some research investigates the likelihood that both twins can develop the same characteristic, known as a concordance rate These investigations into concordance rates have provided evidence that showed that if one identical twin (monozygotic) develops a disorder like schizophrenia, there is a roughly 48% chance of the other twin also developing schizophrenia, whereas this is only percentage is significantly lower within non-identical twins (dizygotic). The studies have shown that about only 17% of non-identical twins would both develop disorders like schizophrenia. Such findings support that genetics play a significant part in explaining human behaviours.

One of the strengths of the biological approach and how it explains behaviour is that it presents a strong nature viewpoint of the nature-nurture debate and provides evidence to explain why this debate explains certain human behaviour e.g. through the genotype and phenotype. Also, the biological approach uses experimental methods (gathering observable evidence) which makes the approach very scientific. However, the biological approach is seen as reductionist because the complex behaviour, thoughts and emotions are all explained by biological mechanisms such as biochemicals and nerve impulses.