The Biological Approach
Key Person in the study of
the Biological Approach:
Arnold Gesell
Gesell’s Theory of Maturation
A ‘biological unfolding of
the individual according
to a plan contained in the
genes – the hereditary
material passed from
their parents to their
offspring at conception
(Shaffer, 1993)
So, as soon as you are conceived, you will begin to
mature according to your genes
Gesell’s Theory of Maturation
• Gesell says that a baby begins to mature as soon as
it has been conceived.
A foetus at 5 weeks
A foetus at 39 weeks
Gesell’s theory of Maturation
• As the child develops
from birth onwards, its
genes allow it to flower
gradually into the person
they are meant to be.
• The environment should
provide support for this
unfolding of talents,
skills, personality,
interest etc, but the
main thing driving this
development is the
maturation process.
Gesell would say that this child
could be encouraged to play the
piano, but that it was always
part of her biological makeup
that she had the skills to play it
in the first place. What do you
think?
Gesell’s theory of Maturation
Nature versus Nurture
• Is a child born a certain way, or does the nurture it
receives encourage it to behave in a certain way
and do certain things?
• Gesell says it’s nature. That our personality and
everything about us is determined by our genes.
• He says that in the right circumstances we can
mature to develop to our full potential
(self-actualisation!)
Gesell – Developmental Norms
• Gesell developed an assessment scale to
enable judgements to be made about whether
a child’s behaviour and understanding matches
that of their chronological age.
• They are expected to be able to perform
certain tasks by certain ages, and if they can’t
they are not deemed to be maturing properly.
• Do you think this helpful? Should we develop
at the same rate?
The Biological Approach
Circadian Rhythms
Core Temperature
Pineal Gland - Hormone Melatonin
Circadian Rhythms
This refers to the idea that
we have a body clock.
Our bodies do things in a
24-25 hour cycle.
Certain physiological things in
our bodies do the same thing
at the same time every day.
Eg:
•Our core temperature varies
•When we wake and sleep
•Our blood pressure varies
We have a body clock
Circadian Rhythms – Core Body Temperature
• Our core body temperature
is 36.7 degrees Celsius.
However, it varies from
36.1 – 37.2 degrees.
• When our body
temperature is at its
warmest we are most alert,
and when it’s at its coldest
we are least alert and feel
sleepy.
• We are most cold at 4am,
and this is when people
tend to die in their sleep!
• How does this affect
people who have to work
from 10pm-6am?
Circadian Rhythms
The Pineal Gland & Melatonin
• The Pineal Gland produces a
hormone called Melatonin.
• The more Melatonin
released, the more sleepy
you become.
• Darkness causes an increase
in Melatonin.
• Lightness causes a decrease
in Melatonin.
• So our circadian rhythm is
impacted by external stimuli
(eg the light and dark).
It is dark and you are
feeling very sleepy….
Circadian Rhythms
The Biological Approach
According to the biological approach, our
circadian rhythms influence our behaviour.
They cause us to wake & sleep.
Do you think it is nature or nurture?
Could it be that when we sleep our Melatonin
levels rise, or is it that our Melatonin levels
rise which causes us to sleep?