Outline and evaluate the Biological Approach (16 marks)
The biological approach emphasises the importance of innate factors in understanding human behaviour, and
as such favours the nature side of the nature-nurture debate. This approach is largely nomothetic, given the
heavy use of the experimental method. There are two levels of analysis contained within the approach, one
being the causal explanation and the other being the functional explanation. The causal explanation involves
examining physiology when determining behaviour e.g., the hypothalamus differs in size between males and
females. Neurons, neurotransmitters, and hormones are fundamental in this approach e.g., high testosterone
levels are correlated with increased aggression. The functional level of analysis examines the evolutionary and
genetic basis of behaviour. There are 2 main concepts within this level of analysis, which are natural and sexual
selection. Natural selection is the idea that within a species, those with advantageous traits survive over
others. Sexual selection is the idea that males and females select a mate based on certain characteristics.
Experiments are heavily utilised in this approach, with twin studies being conducted to test the concordance
rates between MZ and DZ twins. Additionally, case studies are carried out e.g., Phineas Gage and HM to
investigate localisation of cortical function.
A key strength of this approach is that it uses a variety of scientific techniques (e.g., fMRI scans, PET scans) to
investigate human behaviour. This ensures that any findings have a strong scientific backing, making them
more likely to be widely accepted. The use of the experimental method allows a high level of control to be
taken and the additional use of idiographic case studies allows ecologically valid scenarios to be studied, which
under normal circumstances wouldn’t meet ethical guidelines. For example, in the Phineas Gage case study,
his brain was severely damaged when a steel rod punctured it during an explosion. His behaviour following the
incident could then be analysed and compared to his previous behaviour to determine whether the injury
could be linked to any behavioural changes. This case developed our understanding of localisation of cortical
function and is an example of the tremendous application to psychology that cases such as this one can have.
Through understanding localisation of brain function to a greater degree it allows better understanding of
patients suffering from brain damage, meaning there are interesting applications to neurosurgery.
In contrast, a limitation of this is that the approach is overly deterministic. This is problematic as alternative
approaches, such as the behaviourist or social learning theory approaches would criticise biological
The biological approach emphasises the importance of innate factors in understanding human behaviour, and
as such favours the nature side of the nature-nurture debate. This approach is largely nomothetic, given the
heavy use of the experimental method. There are two levels of analysis contained within the approach, one
being the causal explanation and the other being the functional explanation. The causal explanation involves
examining physiology when determining behaviour e.g., the hypothalamus differs in size between males and
females. Neurons, neurotransmitters, and hormones are fundamental in this approach e.g., high testosterone
levels are correlated with increased aggression. The functional level of analysis examines the evolutionary and
genetic basis of behaviour. There are 2 main concepts within this level of analysis, which are natural and sexual
selection. Natural selection is the idea that within a species, those with advantageous traits survive over
others. Sexual selection is the idea that males and females select a mate based on certain characteristics.
Experiments are heavily utilised in this approach, with twin studies being conducted to test the concordance
rates between MZ and DZ twins. Additionally, case studies are carried out e.g., Phineas Gage and HM to
investigate localisation of cortical function.
A key strength of this approach is that it uses a variety of scientific techniques (e.g., fMRI scans, PET scans) to
investigate human behaviour. This ensures that any findings have a strong scientific backing, making them
more likely to be widely accepted. The use of the experimental method allows a high level of control to be
taken and the additional use of idiographic case studies allows ecologically valid scenarios to be studied, which
under normal circumstances wouldn’t meet ethical guidelines. For example, in the Phineas Gage case study,
his brain was severely damaged when a steel rod punctured it during an explosion. His behaviour following the
incident could then be analysed and compared to his previous behaviour to determine whether the injury
could be linked to any behavioural changes. This case developed our understanding of localisation of cortical
function and is an example of the tremendous application to psychology that cases such as this one can have.
Through understanding localisation of brain function to a greater degree it allows better understanding of
patients suffering from brain damage, meaning there are interesting applications to neurosurgery.
In contrast, a limitation of this is that the approach is overly deterministic. This is problematic as alternative
approaches, such as the behaviourist or social learning theory approaches would criticise biological
