Outline and evaluate the biological approach in psychology. (8 marks)

The biological approach in psychology assumes that, to be able to fully understand human behaviour, we must look at biological structures and processes in the body, for example our genes and neurotransmitters. Biological psychology puts an emphasis on the genetic basis of behaviour, and often uses 'twin studies' to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis. A person's genotype is their genetic makeup, whilst a person's phenotype is the way genes are expressed through behavioural and psychological features based on environmental features. The biological approach has often been linked to the explanation of evolution, suggesting that advantageous genes which increase someone's chance of survival are passed onto future generations - this is natural selection.A strength of the biological approach is that it has many applications to the real world. For example, understanding the biological processes of human behaviour has led to the development of psychoactive drugs which treat serious mental illnesses such as depression. This means that the approach has practical value, and has allowed many sufferers to integrate back into society. Furthermore, it has improved our understanding of human behaviour, increasing the credibility of the approach as a whole. Additionally, the biological approach uses a range of highly scientific and precise methods such as scanning techniques (e.g. fMRIs, EEGs and drug trials), meaning measurements are objective and accurate, increasing the reliability of data, making the approach more internally valid. Overall, the biological approach is a scientifically credible approach, which has also benefited society with its real world applications.