Practise IB Psychology HL 3.3.7 questions by evaluating biological factors and chemical messengers that influence personal relationships.
Discuss one or more biological origins of attraction.
Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "discuss" requires candidates to offer a considered and balanced review of one or more biological explanations for the origin of attraction.
Responses may include, but are not limited to:
- the role of neurotransmitters (eg Fisher, 2004) and hormones
- evolutionary explanations (eg Buss, 1996;
mechanisms of attraction in the brain, eg findings suggesting the hypothalamus triggers physiological arousal;
the influence of pheromones eg Wedekind's sweaty T-shirt study)
- studies on male ritual behaviour in animals.
Discussion of the biological explanation of attraction may include, but is not limited to:
- contradictory findings
- methodological considerations
- gender considerations
- empirical evidence
- alternative explanations of attraction, such as social and/or cognitive
- relevance of animal research.
Candidates may address one or a small number of biological origins of attraction in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may address a larger number of biological origins of attraction in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.