Biological Approach

The biological approach believes us to be as a consequence of our genetics and physiology. It is the only approach in psychology that examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a biological and thus physical point of view.

A biological perspective is relevant to the study of psychology in three ways and they are used to help explain human behavior

-The comparative- Used to help search to understand human behavior

-Physiology(The brain)- how the nervous system and hormones work, how the brain functions, how changes in structure and/or function can affect behavior.

-The genetic- Determines what people will inherit from there parents

One strength of the biological approach is that it is deterministic. This is a strength because it increases the likelihood of being able to treat people with abnormal behavior and provides explanations about the causes of behavior. This understanding can then be used to improve people’s lives.

One weakness of the biological approach is that it is nomothetic. This is a weakness because it develops theories about disorders and generalizes them to apply to everyone. It does not take into account the view that humans are unique. An example of this is that General Adaptation Syndrome assumes that everyone responds in the same way to stress but does not take into account that some people have more support than others.