BIOLOGICAL APPROACH

Question 1

SCIENTIFIC
(STRENGTH)

Answer 1

• Behaviour can be explained by Localisation of brain function, and chemicals.
• Clear variables which can be measured, tracked, examined.
• This allows scientific research to be conducted
• i.e psychosurgery involves removing parts of the brain linked to areas for certain behaviours
• i.e Raine Et al and pet scans
• Objective, controlled studies, demonstrates casual relationships
• supports biological explanations

Question 2

SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS
(STRENGTH)

Answer 2

• Many successful applications
• Researches into cause and relationship
• Led to treatment of mental disorders like drug therapies and psychosurgery
• Psychosurgery has treated OCD, bipolar, depression.
• Cosgrove 2001 - capsulotomy 67% effective in OCD
• Drug therapy is very popular for accessibility

Question 3

DETERMINIST
(STRENGTH)

Answer 3

• We know what ‘predetermines’ our behaviour so can more likely treat abnormal behaviour
• Casual understandings provides explanations about causes of behaviour
• Can improve peoples lives because of understandings
• i.e if we understand that prolonged stress causes physical illness, then we can reduce negative effects by treating stress presently

Question 4

REDUCTIONIST APPROACH
(WEAKNESS)

Answer 4

• Reduces complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations (i.e reducing the experience of stress to the action of the hormones adrenaline)
• Simplified explanations may prevent us reaching a true understanding of the target behaviour
• Psychiatrist R.D Laing (1965) claims that with ‘schizophrenia said to be a complex physical chemical system gone wrong’ is ignoring the experience of distress that goes along with any mental illness, making it incomplete

Question 5

NATURE NOT NURTURE
(WEAKNESS)

Answer 5

• Multiple causes to mental illnesses, but biological approach only focuses on just biology (nature), and ignoring life experiences.
• Does not consider how people think or feel
• i.e Biological approach explains schizophrenia as being concerned with abnormal levels of neurotransmitters, NOT how patients feel.
• Concerned with adjusting abnormal biological systems, rather than talking to patients about how they feel.

Question 6

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
(WEAKNESS)

Answer 6

• Nomothetic approach
• Looks to make generalisations about people and find similarities
• Ignores differences individuals may have
• i.e when stressed, some people produce higher levels of adrenaline, whilst others don’t produce as much, this difference also affects the long-term effects of stress.
• Focuses on just a few individuals and assumes everyone’s system works in the same way
• Research has tended to use males rather than female participants
• That causes male bias in terms of results and gender difference
• Taylor et al (2000) suggested the difference between men and women when reacting to stress. Men- ‘flight or fight’ Women- ‘tend and befriend’
• The gender difference is seen in many species with females being more protecting and nurturing and releasing oxytocin