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2 Dec 2025
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Understanding the EDUQAS Psychology Biological Approach
B
Brooke Jenner
@brookejenner_lgis
1 / 4
Core Assumptions of the Biological Approach
Ever wondered why you act the way you do? The biological approach reckons it's all down to evolution, brain structure, and chemicals floating around in your head.
Evolutionary influences suggest that behaviours helping us survive get passed down through generations. Think about how parents will do absolutely anything to protect their children - this altruistic behaviour exists because it helped our ancestors' genes survive and spread.
Your brain isn't just one big blob - different areas have specific jobs through localisation of brain functions. The frontal lobe handles your creativity and personality, whilst the temporal lobe processes memory and hearing. When things go wrong in specific areas, you get predictable problems like Broca's area damage (can't speak but understand) or Wernicke's area damage (can speak but it's complete gibberish).
Neurotransmitters are the brain's chemical messengers that make everything work. Too little serotonin leads to depression and sleep problems, whilst too much dopamine is linked to schizophrenia. It's like having the wrong fuel mixture in your car - everything starts running badly.
Quick Tip: Remember that neurons communicate at synapses using chemical messengers, not electrical signals between cells.
Drug Therapy in Practice
Struggling with mental health? There's probably a drug designed specifically to tackle your brain's chemical imbalance - and they actually work pretty well.
Anti-psychotics treat conditions like schizophrenia by blocking dopamine receptors in your brain. Conventional anti-psychotics tackle positive symptoms (like hallucinations), whilst atypical anti-psychotics like Clozapine cause fewer nasty side effects like tardive dyskinesia.
Anti-depressants, especially SSRIs like Prozac, work by stopping enzymes from breaking down serotonin - basically keeping more of the 'happy chemical' floating around your brain. Anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines (Valium) slow down your central nervous system by enhancing GABA, whilst beta-blockers literally slow your heart rate by blocking adrenaline receptors.
The evidence is pretty solid - Soomro's review of 17 studies showed SSRIs significantly reduced OCD symptoms compared to placebos. However, these drugs only treat symptoms, not root causes, and come with side effects like nausea and insomnia.
Ethics Alert: Using placebos in drug trials raises serious questions about whether patients are getting the treatment they deserve.
Raine's Brain Scan Study on Murderers
What if violent criminals literally have different brains? Raine's groundbreaking study used PET scans to peek inside the minds of 41 murderers who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI).
Using FDG injections and brain imaging, Raine discovered that murderers had reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (the area controlling impulses) and weird patterns in their amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus. Essentially, the brain regions controlling emotion and decision-making weren't firing properly.
The quasi-experimental design meant no cause-and-effect could be proven - we can't say whether brain differences cause violence or violence causes brain changes. The PET scan technique was brilliant for showing live brain activity, but the sample was quite specific (convicted murderers), making it hard to generalise to other violent crimes.
Raine was careful to point out his findings don't mean biology determines criminality or that people aren't responsible for their actions. There were also confounding variables like brain injuries and IQ that couldn't be controlled.
Real Talk: This research raises huge ethical concerns about consent from mentally ill prisoners and potential discrimination against people with similar brain patterns.
Evaluating the Biological Approach
The biological approach has some serious strengths, but it's definitely not perfect - and understanding its limitations is crucial for your exams.
Scientific credibility is its biggest strength. Studies like Raine's use proper PET scans and replicable methods, whilst drug therapy research involves controlled trials with measurable results. This isn't just theory - it's hard science that other researchers can verify and build upon.
The approach's deterministic nature allows early intervention. If we know someone's genetically predisposed to schizophrenia, we can potentially prevent it with early treatment. Successful applications are everywhere - Vigurea found 60% success rates treating bipolar disorder with Lithium.
However, it's massively reductionist, boiling down complex human behaviour to simple chemical equations. Mental illness usually involves multiple factors, not just neurotransmitter imbalances. The approach also chooses nature over nurture, ignoring trauma and environmental factors that clearly influence mental health.
Individual differences get completely overlooked. Taylor's research showed men have 'fight or flight' responses whilst women show 'tend and befriend' - yet most biological studies generalise findings across genders without considering hormonal differences like oxytocin in women.
Exam Tip: Always discuss both strengths and weaknesses - the biological approach is scientifically solid but dangerously oversimplified.
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Most popular content: Biological Bases of Behavior
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Understanding the EDUQAS Psychology Biological Approach
B
Brooke Jenner
@brookejenner_lgis
The biological approach in psychology focuses on how our biology - from brain structure to neurotransmitters - shapes our behaviour and mental health. This approach suggests that everything from personality to mental illness can be explained through evolutionary influences, brain... Show more
Core Assumptions of the Biological Approach
Ever wondered why you act the way you do? The biological approach reckons it's all down to evolution, brain structure, and chemicals floating around in your head.
Evolutionary influences suggest that behaviours helping us survive get passed down through generations. Think about how parents will do absolutely anything to protect their children - this altruistic behaviour exists because it helped our ancestors' genes survive and spread.
Your brain isn't just one big blob - different areas have specific jobs through localisation of brain functions. The frontal lobe handles your creativity and personality, whilst the temporal lobe processes memory and hearing. When things go wrong in specific areas, you get predictable problems like Broca's area damage (can't speak but understand) or Wernicke's area damage (can speak but it's complete gibberish).
Neurotransmitters are the brain's chemical messengers that make everything work. Too little serotonin leads to depression and sleep problems, whilst too much dopamine is linked to schizophrenia. It's like having the wrong fuel mixture in your car - everything starts running badly.
Quick Tip: Remember that neurons communicate at synapses using chemical messengers, not electrical signals between cells.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Drug Therapy in Practice
Struggling with mental health? There's probably a drug designed specifically to tackle your brain's chemical imbalance - and they actually work pretty well.
Anti-psychotics treat conditions like schizophrenia by blocking dopamine receptors in your brain. Conventional anti-psychotics tackle positive symptoms (like hallucinations), whilst atypical anti-psychotics like Clozapine cause fewer nasty side effects like tardive dyskinesia.
Anti-depressants, especially SSRIs like Prozac, work by stopping enzymes from breaking down serotonin - basically keeping more of the 'happy chemical' floating around your brain. Anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines (Valium) slow down your central nervous system by enhancing GABA, whilst beta-blockers literally slow your heart rate by blocking adrenaline receptors.
The evidence is pretty solid - Soomro's review of 17 studies showed SSRIs significantly reduced OCD symptoms compared to placebos. However, these drugs only treat symptoms, not root causes, and come with side effects like nausea and insomnia.
Ethics Alert: Using placebos in drug trials raises serious questions about whether patients are getting the treatment they deserve.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Raine's Brain Scan Study on Murderers
What if violent criminals literally have different brains? Raine's groundbreaking study used PET scans to peek inside the minds of 41 murderers who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI).
Using FDG injections and brain imaging, Raine discovered that murderers had reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (the area controlling impulses) and weird patterns in their amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus. Essentially, the brain regions controlling emotion and decision-making weren't firing properly.
The quasi-experimental design meant no cause-and-effect could be proven - we can't say whether brain differences cause violence or violence causes brain changes. The PET scan technique was brilliant for showing live brain activity, but the sample was quite specific (convicted murderers), making it hard to generalise to other violent crimes.
Raine was careful to point out his findings don't mean biology determines criminality or that people aren't responsible for their actions. There were also confounding variables like brain injuries and IQ that couldn't be controlled.
Real Talk: This research raises huge ethical concerns about consent from mentally ill prisoners and potential discrimination against people with similar brain patterns.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Evaluating the Biological Approach
The biological approach has some serious strengths, but it's definitely not perfect - and understanding its limitations is crucial for your exams.
Scientific credibility is its biggest strength. Studies like Raine's use proper PET scans and replicable methods, whilst drug therapy research involves controlled trials with measurable results. This isn't just theory - it's hard science that other researchers can verify and build upon.
The approach's deterministic nature allows early intervention. If we know someone's genetically predisposed to schizophrenia, we can potentially prevent it with early treatment. Successful applications are everywhere - Vigurea found 60% success rates treating bipolar disorder with Lithium.
However, it's massively reductionist, boiling down complex human behaviour to simple chemical equations. Mental illness usually involves multiple factors, not just neurotransmitter imbalances. The approach also chooses nature over nurture, ignoring trauma and environmental factors that clearly influence mental health.
Individual differences get completely overlooked. Taylor's research showed men have 'fight or flight' responses whilst women show 'tend and befriend' - yet most biological studies generalise findings across genders without considering hormonal differences like oxytocin in women.
Exam Tip: Always discuss both strengths and weaknesses - the biological approach is scientifically solid but dangerously oversimplified.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user