IB Biological Perspective Review

Same thing as the other two !

1. IB - The Biological Perspective
Introduction
The focus of this perspective is the interaction between the physiological and
psychological factors that contribute to behavior. Changes in behavior can arise
from an interaction of dispositional and environmental factors. Research has
frequently, but not exclusively, used the experimental method. Key issues that are
relevant to the biological perspective include criticisms that it often involves a
reductionist approach and that behavior exhibited by non-human animals is not
always relevant to humans. In this unit students will evaluate the relevance of this
perspective to modern psychology.
You need to be able to:
Describe and evaluate the cultural context and development, the conceptual framework, the
methodology, and the application of the biomedical model.
Cultural context and development:
- Darwin (Evolution – Natural Selection)
- Dualism
- Later shift from Dualism to Materialism
Conceptual Framework (Key
Concepts):
physiological (biological) concepts affect
behavior.
Neurotransmitters (excitatory, inhibitory).
The Brain (localization of functions).
Bodily Rhythms
Methodology:
Correlational studies, double blind
trials, experiments (use of animals and
humans = ethically controversial),
interviews, case studies and
questionnaires.
Applications:
- comparison with other perspectives
- application of genetic research and
ethical implications
- changes in education, work and
therapy.
Describe and evaluate theories and empirical studies within this perspective.
Theories:
Biological researchers tend to view behavior has purely physical. Their basic assumption is
that the brain determines behavior.
Dualism – the view, first attributed to Descartes, that mind and body are distinct, Descartes
believed that the two could interact via the pineal gland in the brain. However, now most
psychologist disregard this assumption.

2. Materialism – assumption that all behavior has a physiological basis.
The two primary concerns of the biological perspective are the workings of the nervous
system, and the role of hereditary on behavior.
Assumptions:
· Materialism (body and mind are the same)
· All psychological behavior is first physiological (mind appears to reside in the brain,
therefore all thoughts, feelings, and behaviors ultimately have a physical/biological cause)
· Genes have evolved over millions of years to adapt behavior to the environment. Therefore,
much behavior will have a genetic basis.
Heredity – the biological transmission of characteristics from one generation to the other.
This is a main aspect of the biological approach.
Natural Selection – the evolutionary process by which those random variations within a
species which enhance reproductive success lead to perpetuation of new characteristics, in
essence, individuals possessing traits which enhance survival and reproduction are likely to
have more offspring (Darwin).
Empirical Studies:
Darwin – His theory of natural selection published in his book “The Origin of Species”
(1859) was a major influence on the biological perspective. Darwin was advocating not only
the inheritance of characteristics, but also an evolutionary link between humans and all other
species. Even though, his theory caused much controversy, it laid the basis for the study of
hereditary influences on behavior.
1861 – A French doctor, Paul Broca, encountered a case in which a man lost the ability to
speak coherently after a head injury. Later, Broca, was able to demonstrate, by post mortem
autopsy, that the cause of the man’s deficit lay in damage to a specific point in the brain.
The proof of this localization of function (connecting a specific behavior to a specific brain
area) was crucial to this perspective.
Wernicke - Interested in psychiatry, traditionally he studied anatomy
initially and neuropathology later. He published a small volume on aphasia
which vaulted him into international fame. In it was precise pathoanatomic
analysis paralleling the clinical picture. He is best known for his work
on sensory aphasia and poliomyelitis hemorrhagia superior. The aphasia
syndrome, as described by Wernicke in 1908, consists of loss of comprehension of spoken
language, loss of ability to read (silently) and write, and distortion of articulate speech.
Hearing is intact. Wernicke aimed at a natural system for the classification of mental
disorders, chiefly based on the anatomy and pathology of the nervous system. His pattern of
thought was based on the concept that psychiatric diseases were caused by disturbances of

3. the associative system. It was, in other words, a sort of localisation doctrine.
1950s -Sperry severed the optic chiasm (the place where nerve cells from the two eyes
cross) and corpus callosum of monkeys. Each eye went to one half of the brain. It proved
that each half of the brain became two separate learning centers. Sperry got together people
who had their Corpus Callosum split to try and control their sever epilepsy. He showed them
different visual stimuli really quickly so only one visual field could take up the information,
and then got the patient to identify the word in different ways. He also tried this using touch
identification and by showing two different symbols to either visual field. He found that the
right visual field was connected to the left side of the brain and vice versa and that the Left
side of the brain could write it or say the information, and the right side could identify the
information by pointing. Still this gave no indication of what might happen in humans. One
obvious difference between primates and people is that monkeys do not speak, and Broca
has shown that speech was found in only one hemisphere. Consequently, no one was sure
what would happen if the hemispheres were separated in a person.
Implications: Support of localization of the brain theory. Mirror sites, connecting to old
memories.
1960s – In Los Angeles, Philip Vogel was trying to treat patients with a long history of
epilepsy. While in many cases epileptics could be treated with anti-seizure drugs, these
patients did not respond to the drug treatment. When all treatments failed, Vogel tried a new
and radical approach: by cutting the fibres of the corpus callosum, he hoped to restrict the
seizure activity to one hemisphere and thus prevent major seizure attacks. While he knew of
Sperry’s work, and there had been occasional clinical reports of damage to the corpus
callosum, no one had purposely separated the hemispheres before. Medically, the treatment
worked, and it reduced the frequency of more limited seizures. Initial observations
suggested that the patients were normal, everyday actions such as walking and eating
seemed to occur naturally. However after further testing, they found that the patients
behaved in many ways as if they had two independent streams of conscious awareness, one
in each hemisphere, each of with is cut from and out of contact with the mental experience
of the “other”. In other words, two minds functioning separately from each other. To assess
the effects of the surgery, the researchers had to use techniques whereby information was
presented to only one hemisphere. The simplest case, involved touch: if the split brain
person were given an object in there life hand while blindfolded, the left hand could pick it
out again, by touch, from a selection of several objects. However, if the right hand
attempted to pick out the article previously held in the left hand, it did no better than chance.
In the case of vision, the situation is a bit more complicated, because each eye is connected
to both hemispheres. The division of visual processing is such that the visual world of both
eye is divided in two, so that the objects on the left side of the visual world are seen by the
right hemisphere, while objects on the right side are seen by the left hemisphere, regardless
of which eye is used. Since only the left hemisphere had language, the split brain person
presented with a word or picture on the left side (conveyed to the right hemisphere) could
not say what they had seen. The left hemisphere also specializes in logic and math skills.
They also discovered that the right hemisphere has musical and spatial abilities which the
left hemisphere lacks. However the right hemisphere is not completely ignorant of language
because if a split person was presented with a word or picture, it can point to a
corresponding word or picture. Thus, if the right hemisphere sees the word “key”, the left

4. hand can correctly choose a key.
Explain how cultural, ethical, gender, and methodological considerations affect the
interpretation of behavior from a biological perspective.
Effectiveness of the perspective in explaining psychological and/or social questions:
Comparison with other perspectives on questions such as aggression, gender differences or
stress. It addresses the question of gender differences: Nature or nurture? When looking at
gender differences it looks at issues such as sex, relationships, eating disorders etc. Eating
disorders have many causes, they can be physiological, cultural, emotional. Society’s
impact on women and the correlation that exists between eating disorders and genders is
studied as the great difference from male: to female ratio increases (1:7).
Gender: There are a great deal of differences between males and females, in terms of
physiology and personality. However, in terms of the brain, there is a distinct difference
between the two genders. Females actually have a larger and more developed corpus
callosum than men, which suggests that they have better communication between the two
sides of the brain. While the male brain is, on average, approximately 10 percent larger than
the female brain, females have a larger frontal lobe than men, which might explain the fact
that women seem to have a heightened perception of emotions than men. Females have
evolved mechanisms that enable them to detect men that will transfer resourced to their
offspring (i.e. health and paternal investment). Males, however, have evolved mechanisms
that enable them to detect females that promise rapid production of offspring, and
disinclination to mate with other men (i.e. health, fertility, and faithfulness). This could
explain why men expect women to be faithful, and why women seek out faithful men,
however males do not feel compelled to remain faithful to women.
Compare theories, empirical studies and the conceptual framework of this model with the other
perspectives.

5. Biological Psychodynamic Learning
Key terms and concepts:
Physiological
(biological) concepts
affect behavior.
Neurotransmitters
(excitatory, inhibitory).
The Brain (localization
of functions).
Bodily Rhythms
Hormones, Endocrine
gland, Drugs, Stress,
Sleep, Materialism,
Hereditary, Central
nervous system etc.
Key terms and
concepts: archetypes,
defense mechanisms,
ego, id, superego,
psychosexual stages of
development,
inferiority complex,
Oedipal conflict,
conscious etc.
Key terms and concepts:
Reinforcement
(positive/negative), operant
conditioning, learning,
classical conditioning,
conditioned response,
conditioned stimulus,
schedules of reinforcement,
shaping etc.

Key theorists:
Sperry, Vogel, Broca,
Wernicke
Key theorists:
Freud, Jung, Adler
Key theorists:
Watson, Skinner, Thorndike
Assumptions:
Based on the assumption
of materialism, which
asserts that all behavior
has a physiological
basis.
Genes have evolved over
millions of years to
adapt behavior to the
environment. Therefore,
much behavior will have
a genetic basis.
Assumptions:
Attempts to understand
behavior in terms of the
workings of the mind,
with an emphasis on
motivation and the role
of past experience.
Emphasizes the
importance of innate
drives, the continuity of
normal and abnormal
behavior and the role of
the unconscious mind.
By making the
assumption of psychic
determinism, views all
behavior as having a
meaning.
Assumptions:
Emphasizes the study of
observable responses, and
rejects attempts to study
internal processes like
thinking.
Focus on learning as a
primary factor in explaining
changes in behavior.
Parsimony: The principle
that states that one should
always seek the simplest
possible explanation for an
event.
Associationism:
Mental processes,
particularly learning, are
based on forming
connections between ideas
and/or events.
Methodology:
Correlational studies,
double blind trials,
experiments, interviews,
case studies and
questionnaires.
Methodology:
Case studies, interviews
Methodology:
Experiments, interviews,
surveys, observation
Identify and explain the strengths and limitations of biological explanations of behavior.
Strengths – with the biological approach a
better understanding of how the brain
works has been achieved. Such as with
Broca’s work, “localization of the brain”
psychologists were able to connect a
Limitations – the biological approach
emphasizes “getting inside the black
box”, that is look at internal structure of
the organism. However, they do not
take in to account outside factors, such

6. specific behavior to a specific area of the
brain). Also the developments of
techniques to study the brain have
improved with time. Different techniques
are EEG, MRI, CAT scans, PET.
The biological perspective has also helped
us understand the effect that drugs have in
the organism (such as cocaine, alcohol etc)
and understand what happens to different
areas of the brain and to neurotransmitters.
The study of psychoactive (mind
affecting) drugs is a concern in both
psychology and medicine, and has given
rise to a hybrid field called
psychopharmacy. This extensive study
has helped to understand in depth humans’
behavior under the influence of drugs.
Another strength of this perspective is the
understanding of the effects of hormonal
change on behavior.
as the environment, effect of society,
family etc. on behavior. Not every
behavior can be explained solely on the
brain. Other past experiences can have
an effect on our behavior. Such as
when trying to understand aggression
and why someone might change acquire
a violent behavior. The biological
perspective proposes that in order for a
person’s behavior to change drastically,
two out of these three things must
happen: 1) caused by physical damage
to the brain, 2) have a mental disease,
3) or have been abused as a child. This
last one however does not seem to go
with the perspective since it takes into
account past experiences.
Explain the extent to which free will and determinism are integral in this perspective.
Free Will: Since this perspective
acknowledges the presence of the mind
(basic assumption of materialism), and
focuses on how processes in the brain
account for behavior, it can be assumed
that free will is integral to this perspective.
However, such theories as those that
explain aggression, suggest that there are
some behaviors which are hereditary and
which we have no control over.

Determinism: The biological
perspective is deterministic in that it
states that certain psychological
(personality) traits are pre-determined,
or inherited. The emphasis on genetics
and the biological basis of behavior
makes determinism integral to this
perspective.
Explain and evaluate claims that correlates exist between physiological and psychological
behavior.

Localization of function: it has been determined that certain areas of the brain are primarily used for
certain functions and determine specific behaviors. This also allows us to determine the effects of
damage on these particular areas of the brain.
Discuss controversies surrounding a reductionist approach, as adopted by many biological
psychologists.

7. The biological approach can be said to be a reductionist approach because it focuses specifically on
neurological processes. It doesn’t take other possible explanations of behavior into account, such as
cognitive processes (mental models), or the role of the environment.
Historical Development and Cultural Context
A long history of interest in mind-body dilemma
The influence of Darwin
The development of genetics and scanning technology
Paradigm shift toward the scientific method
·The Greeks (Hippocrates and Galen)
·Early brain research (Broca and Gage)
·Darwin
·Gene research (Mendel, Watson & Crick and the Genome project)
·Brain research (Lesions, Electrical stimulation, ECG, CAT, MRI)
·Discoveries in medicine and biology (neurotransmitters, Hormones, Drugs)
·Philosophy (Dualism Vs Materalism)
Assumptions
·All that is psychological is first physiological; behavior is biologically
determined.
·Human genes have evolved over millions of years to adapt behavior to the
environment. Therefore, much behavior has a genetic basis.
·Psychology should investigate the brain, nervous system, endocrine system,
neurochemistry, and genes.
·Animals may be studied as a means of understanding human behavior.
Key Concepts and Ideas

8. Overview:
Techniques to Learn about Structure and
Function
Measuring Brain Function
·EEG (electroencephalogram) – used to
study states of arousal – sleeping
/dreaming and detect abnormalities and
study cognition.
·PET (positron emission tomography) –
color graphics depend on the amount of
metabolic activity in the imaged brain
region.
·MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) –
show brain at work at higher resolution
than PET = Changes in oxygen in the
blood of an active brain area. Explore
well-known systems like perception to
less understood systems like motivation
and emotion.
Organization of Nervous System
·Central nervous system – brain and
spinal cord
·Peripheral nervous system – somatic
and autonomic
·Somatic nervous system – motor
neuron – stimulate skeletal (voluntary)
muscle.
·Autonomic – neuron that stimulates
smooth (involuntary) and heart muscle.
·Autonomic – antagonistic sympathetic
nervous system and parasympathetic
nervous system.
·Spinal Cord
The Brain
Evolution
Three division
1.Reptilian brain – maintains homeostasis
and instinctive behavior
2.Old mammalian brain – limbic system
3.New mammalian brain – cerebral cortex
80% of brain volume higher function
Split brain
Structure and Function of the Neuron
1.Glial cells
2.Neurons
3.Cell body
4.Dendrites
5.Axon
6.Terminal buttons
7.Myelin sheath
8.Neurotransmitters
9.Acetylcholine
10.Dopamine – stimulated the hypothalamus to
synthesize hormone
11.Serotonin – sexual activity, concentration and
attention
12.endorphins
13.Reflex Action – reflex arc
The Endocrine System
·Endocrine system consists of glands that
secrete chemical messengers called
hormones into your blood. The hormones
travel to target organs where they bind to
specific receptors.
·Pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland,
thyroid gland, parathyroid, adrenal glands,
pancreas, ovaries and testes
Genetics and Evolution Psychology
·Nature vs. Nurture
Genetics and Behavior
·Heritability – Twins
·Transmission of hereditary characteristics
·Chromosome, gene, Turner’s syndrome,
Klineflether’s syndrome, Down syndromes,

Key Theorists and Their Contributions
Hubel and Weisel (Vision)Hubel & Wiesel inserted microscopic electrodes into the visual cortex of

9. experimental animals to read the activity of single cells in the visual cortex
while presenting various stimuli to the animal's eyes. They found a
topographical mapping in the cortex, i.e. that nearby cells in the cortex
represented nearby regions in the visual field, i.e. that the visual cortex
represents a spatial map of the visual field.
Roger Sperry (Brain) Roger Wolcott Sperry (August 20, 1913 – April 17, 1994) was a
neuropsychologist, neurobiologist and Nobel laureate who, together with
David Hunter Hubel and Torsten Nils Wiesel, won the 1981 Nobel Prize in
Medicine for his work with split-brain research. In his Nobel-winning work,
Sperry separated the corpus callosum, the area of the brain used to transfer
signals between the right and left hemispheres, to treat epileptics. Sperry and
his colleagues then tested these patients with tasks that were known to be
dependent on specific hemispheres of the brain and demonstrated that the
two halves of the brain may each contain consciousness. In his words, each
hemisphere is the lateralization of brain function.
Charles Darwin (evolution)His 1859 book On the Origin of Species established evolution by common
descent as the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature.
He examined human evolution and sexual selection in The Descent of Man,
and Selection in Relation to Sex, followed by The Expression of the
Emotions in Man and Animals.
Paul Broca (brain) Broca is most famous for his discovery of the speech production center of
the brain located in the ventroposterior region of the frontal lobes (now
known as the Broca's area). He arrived at this discovery by studying the
brains of aphasic patients (persons with speech and language disorders
resulting from brain injuries), particularly the brain of his first patient in the
Bicêtre Hospital, Leborgne, nicknamed "Tan" due to his inability to clearly
speak any words other than "tan".
. Pierre-Paul Broca, Flourens and Lashley, Fred Gage, Joe Martinez, Sperry & Gazzaniga, Hobson & McCarley,
Simon LeVay, Bailey & Pillard, W. Greenough, Saul Schanberg, E Roy John, Tiffany Field.
Attitude Toward Determinism
·Behavior is mainly determined (genetically and
environmentally). People have no choice over heredity or
environment and these factors interact to produce
behavior.
·Biological approaches to psychology look at the
deterministic influence of genetics, brain structure and
biochemistry. Sociobiologists investigate evolutionary
determinism.
Methods

10. Invasive vs. non-invasive techniques. Invasive techniques, such as split brain studies are not only un-
ethical, but leave patients in what can be considered a worse condition than their previous one.
Although when the corpus callosum was cut on severe epileptics, their seizures stopped, but so did the
communication between left and right brain. These techniques are dangerous and messy. Non-invasive
techniques, however, such as MRI, CAT scans, or PET scans, are safer, and are a lot more helpful in
determining areas of the brain which may be malfunctioning.
Correlational studies, double blind trials, experiments (use of animals and humans = ethically
controversial), interviews, case studies and questionnaires.
·Correlational Studies
·Quasi-Experiments & Natural Experiments
·Twin research (a type of correlational research)
·Experimentation
·Lab research vs. naturalistic research
·Reliability and validity of research
·Ethical considerations
Applications
(Where and how is this perspective used with specific examples)
comparison with other perspectives
- application of genetic research and ethical
implications
- changes in education, work and therapy.
Ethical Issues
Evaluation of the Strengths and Weaknesses
·The approach is very scientific, and
thus is reliable.
·Practical applications have been
extremely effective.
·Reductionist - Bio-psychological theories
often over-simplify the huge complexity
of physical systems and their interaction
with the environment.
·It has not explained how mind and body
interact - consciousness and emotion are
difficult to study objectively.

11. Key Terms
action
potential
tiny electrical current that is
generated when positive sodium
ions rush inside the axon
autonomic
nervous
system
regulates heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, other
mainly involuntary movements
all-or-none
law
if an action potential starts at the
beginning of an axon, it will
continue to very end of axon
central
nervous
system
made up of the brain and spinal cord; carries
information back and forth between brain and body
Alzheimer's
disease
incurable, fatal disease involving
brain damage, with memory loss,
deterioration of personality
cerebellum
located at back of brain; involved in coordinating (but
not in initiating) voluntary movements
curare a drug that enters bloodstream and
blocks receptors on muscles,
causing paralysis
cortex
a thin layer of cells covering the entire surface of the
forebrain; folds over on itself to form a large area
dendrites branchlike extensions that arise
from cell body and receive and
pass signals to cell body
endocrine
system
a system of glands which secrete hormones that
affect organs, muscles, and other glands in the body
end bulbs miniature containers at extreme
ends of axon branches; store
chemicals called neurotransmitters
fight-flight
response
a state of increased physiological arousal that helps
body cope with and survive threatening situations
glial cells brain cells that provide scaffolding,
insulation, chemicals to protect and
support neuron growth
forebrain
the largest part of the brain; has right and left sides
(hemispheres) responsible for many functions
ions chemical particles that have
electrical charges; opposite
charges attract and like charges
repel
frontal lobe
a relatively large cortical area at the front part of the
brain; involved in many functions; like an executive
mescaline a drug that causes arousal, visual
hallucinations; acts like
neurotransmitter norepinephrine
gene
a specific segment on the strand of DNA that contains
instructions for building the brain and body
mind-body
question
asks how complex mental activities
can be generated by physical
properties of the brain
gonads
glands (ovaries in females, testes in males) that
regulate sexual development and reproduction
nerve impulse series of separate action potentials
that take place segment by
segment down length of axon
homeostasi
s
keeping the bodyUs level of arousal in balance for
optimum functioning
neuron brain cell with specialized
extensions for receiving and
transmitting electrical signals
limbic
system
core of the forebrain; involved in many motivational
behaviors and with organizing emotional behaviors
neurotransmit
ters
chemical keys with a particular
shape that only fits a similarly
shaped chemical lock or receptor
MRI scan
(magnetic
resonance
imaging)
passing nonharmful radio frequencies through brain
and measuring how signals interact with brain cells
Parkinson's
disease
branchlike extensions that arise
from cell body and receive and
pass signals to cell body
occipital
lobe
core of the forebrain; involved in many motivational
behaviors and with organizing emotional behaviors
phantom limb vivid experience of sensations and
feelings coming from a limb that
has been amputated
parietal
lobe
located directly behind the frontal lobe; its functions
include the sense of touch, temperature, and pain
reflex an unlearned, involuntary reaction
to some stimulus; prewired by
genetic instructions
peripheral
nervous
system
all nerves that extend from the spinal cord and carry
messages to and from muscles, glands, sense
organs
reuptake
process of removing
neurotransmitters from synapse by
reabsorbtion into terminal buttons
PET scan
(positron
emission
tomography
)
measuring a radioactive solution absorbed by brain
cells; shows the activity of various neurons
sodium pump a chemical process responsible for
keeping axon charged by returning
sodium ions outside axon
somatic
nervous
system
a network of nerves that connect either to sensory
receptors or to muscles you can move voluntarily
stereotaxic
procedure
fixing a patientUs head in a holder
and drilling a small hole through the
temporal
lobe
involved in hearing, speaking coherently,
understanding verbal and written material

12. skull; syringe guided to a rain area
synapse very small space between terminal
button and adjacent dendrite,
muscle fiber, or body organ
amygdala
involved in forming, recognizing, and remembering
emotional experiences and facial expressions
autonomic
nervous
system
regulates heart rate, breathing,
blood pressure, other mainly
involuntary movements
homeostasi
s
keeping the bodyUs level of arousal in balance for
optimum functioning
central
nervous
system
made up of the brain and spinal
cord; carries information back and
forth between brain and body
limbic
system
core of the forebrain; involved in many motivational
behaviors and with organizing emotional behaviors
cerebellum
located at back of brain; involved in
coordinating (but not in initiating)
voluntary movements
MRI scan
(magnetic
resonance
imaging)
passing nonharmful radio frequencies through brain
and measuring how signals interact with brain cells
cortex a thin layer of cells covering the
entire surface of the forebrain; folds
over on itself to form a large area
occipital
lobe
core of the forebrain; involved in many motivational
behaviors and with organizing emotional behaviors
endocrine
system
a system of glands which secrete
hormones that affect organs,
muscles, and other glands in the
body
parietal
lobe located directly behind the frontal lobe; its functions
include the sense of touch, temperature, and pain
fight-flight
response
a state of increased physiological
arousal that helps body cope with
and survive threatening situations
peripheral
nervous
system
all nerves that extend from the spinal cord and carry
messages to and from muscles, glands, sense
organs
forebrain
the largest part of the brain; has
right and left sides (hemispheres)
responsible for many functions
PET scan
(positron
emission
tomography
)
measuring a radioactive solution absorbed by brain
cells; shows the activity of various neurons
frontal lobe a relatively large cortical area at the
front part of the brain; involved in
many functions; like an executive
somatic
nervous
system
a network of nerves that connect either to sensory
receptors or to muscles you can move voluntarily
gene a specific segment on the strand of
DNA that contains instructions for
building the brain and body
temporal
lobe
involved in hearing, speaking coherently,
understanding verbal and written material
gonads glands (ovaries in females, testes
in males) that regulate sexual
development and reproduction
1.EXAM SHORT ANSWER and ESSAY QUESTIONS
a.Describe one theoretical explanation of behavioural change in
humans based on the biological perspective. [4 marks]
b.Explain the strengths and limitations of the explanation of
behaviour described in part (a). [4 marks]
May 2003
2.Explain and evaluate claims that correlates exist between physiological
processes and psychological behaviour. [20 marks] May 2003
3.Explain why a reductioninst approach adopted by many biological
psychologists is controversial. [8 marks] Nov 2003
4.“Behavioural change can be regarded as arising from an interaction
between innate disposition and environmental factors.” Describe and
evaluate theories or studies within the biological perspective related to
this statement. [20 marks] Nov 2003
5.

13. a.Outline what is meant by the reductionist approach. [2 marks]
b.Explain how one theory or empirical study from the biological
perspective demonstrates a reductionist approach. [6 marks]
May 2004
6.Discuss how ethical and methodological considerations affect the
interpretation of behaviour from a biological perspective. [20 marks]
May 2004
7.Outline historical or cultural considerations that have given rise to the
biological perspective. [8 marks] Nov 2004
8.Discuss strengths and limitations of research methods used within the
biological perspective. [20 marks] Nov 2004
9.Explain how determinism relates to the biological perspective. [8
marks] May 2005
10.
a.Describe assumptions on which key concepts from the biological
perspective are based. [10 marks]
b.Evaluate the assumptions described in part (a). [10 marks]
May 2005
11.Identify and explain one contribution of the biological perspective to
the scientific study of behaviour. [8 marks] Nov 2005
12.Identify one key concept from the biological perspective and discuss its
contribution to the understanding of behaviour. [20 marks] Nov 2005