Biological approach to understanding behaviour

1.Explain one evolutionary explanation for behaviour, with reference to one study.

Evolution is a process of organism changing over a long period due to genetic change. The
natural selection theory proposed that after a genetic change happened in certain organisms,
there will be a selection based on their suitability toward the environment, thus remaining the
most beneficial genes. Moreover, organisms in a specific region usually holds the same
evolutionary process. For example, the study Chiao & Blizinsky (2009) investigated 5-
HTTLRT (serotonin), a gene related to anxiety and depression, among different cultural
groups.

Chiao & Blizinsky (2009) aimed to test if culture and genetics were co-related. They collected
the genetic data from 24 countries and the collectivistic or individualistic level in each
country. After that, they examined whether there was a correlation between the two data. The
result of the study shows that in regions where people have shorter serotonin, the collectivism
level is higher. Because it was believed that shorter serotonin gene causes people to have
more vulnerable behaviors toward stress and anxiety, the researchers concluded that people
containing the gene developed collectivist culture to protect people from harmful situations.
The evolution of gene and culture were closely related.

Cognitive approach to understanding behavior

2. Describe schema theory, with reference to one relevant study.
The schema theory explains the mental representation of our knowledge, believing that our
knowledge is established on previous knowledge that we own. The theory shows the
connection between belief, knowledge and expectation. Because people all have different
experiences and memories, these three factors will appear different among individuals. For
example, people from individualistic country may see things positively, while people from
collectivistic countries may see things negatively.
The study of Grossman (2011) did an experiment on Russian and Latvian. The study aimed to
study the differences in attention between individualism (Russia) and Collectivism (Latvia).
In the study 47 participants who were Russian/Latvian bicultural were recruited through
advertisement. Participants were given 15 pictures all either from Russian culture or Latvian
culture. After seeing each picture, they were given either a positive word or negative words.
They had to press < or > to distinguish if it was a true word. At last, they were given a
questionnaire to see how involved they were in Russian culture. The result shows that
participants primed Russian culture was fast in recognizing negative words and slow in
recognizing positive words. Participants primed Latvian culture was fast in recognizing
positive words and slow in recognizing negative words. The study concluded that cultural
influences can affect our attention towards the world and emotional situations.