The biological approach in psychology explains that behaviour is determined through an individual’s psychological and genetic make-up. Behaviours in an individual of abnormality such as schizophrenia are hereditary and not learnt through environment. The biological approach explains that behaviour is controlled through the nervous system. The nervous system is broken down into two parts: the peripheral nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes the autonomic system which is split between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls the fight or flight response where an individual makes a quick decision to fight or flee. The parasympathetic nervous system controls the rest and digest response which after the fight or flight response, restores the blood pressure and heart rate to normal paces. The somatic nervous system controls the muscles related to movement and sensory.
Darwin concluded the genetic and evolutionary processes of why we behave in certain ways. He introduced the ‘survival of the fittest’ theory which cancels out the bad genes as animals choose the best ‘adaptive traits’ helping them to survive longer, and when reproducing it helps to pass on the best characteristics. The three principles involved are: diversity – the diversity within a species, interaction – the variety of which the species adapt and fit in with their environment and amplification – those who adapt to their environment will reproduce and survive and those who don’t will die out. Sexual selection is the best strategy considered to passing on genes; females are limited to the amount of eggs they produce as well as have to wait 9 months to conceive, therefore will have to make smart decisions in choosing who fathers the child and who invests time and effort.
The biological approach with gender explains that our genes determine our behaviour and sex. Abnormal chromosomal patterns such as...