Describing and Evaluating the Biological and Behaviourist Approaches

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“Describe and evaluate the Biological Approach” The Biological approach emphasises on the significance of nature in the nature-nurture debate, whereas the nature argument conveys the idea that all of our behaviour is influenced by genetics, and not the environment. Therefore, behaviour and thought processes are thought to have an innate, biological basis, as well as the mind and brain are believed to be the same. In addition, the biological approach supports the idea that human characteristics, such as intelligence, are solely due to our genetic make-up. The evolution of behaviour has been suggested by Darwin, who proposed the idea that human genes have evolved over time to adapt behaviour to the environment, so the principle of natural selection suggests that only the strongest genes survive, whereas the weaker genes die out. Psychologists have been able to manipulate certain genes in order to measure the effects of behaviour, and this can be done by genetic mapping, genetic engineering or selective breeding. A study carried out by Bock and Goode in 1996 supports the biological approach in a way that it proves that genes influence behaviour. This can be interpreted in such way, because the research included two mice being reared apart, and the rats showed a strong tendency to attack male mice when first exposed to other animals. Showing that the mice were not taught to be aggressive; instead the aggression has been inherited from their parents. The biological approach is strong in the way that it uses scientific and experimental research to prove that genes affect human behaviour; scientific and experimental investigations are strengthening the theory, because these are usually highly controlled lab experiments, suggesting that there is a small chance of an error occurring. The arguments provided for the approach are also very convincing, because strong evidence
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