Biological Approach Evaluation

Question 1

(-) Correlations not causations

Answer 1

Name: The biological approach has discovered treatments for mental illnesses such as depression.

Explain: However, the problem is that they have only found correlations not causations.

Evidence: For example, particular drugs containing neurochemicals may reduce symptoms of a mental disorder, but this does not mean that it is a lack of this neurochemical that caused the illness in the first place.

Consequence: This is a limitation because association does not equal causation thus this knowledge cannot be applied to either prevent the development of such illness or explain why they occur.

Question 2

(-) Hard determinism

Answer 2

Name: A limitation of the biological approach is its hard determinism.

Explain: This means that its explanation, for human behaviour, revolves around evolution and inherited genetic make-up and largely ignores free-will.

Evidence/Example: For example, this evolutionary theory is used to account for a number of gender differences including levels of stress and aggression.

Consequence: this is a limitation as it suggests that humans do not have free and cannot be held responsible for their actions (pessimistic). It also underestimate the uniqueness of human beings and their ability to shape their own futures.

Question 3

(+) Highly scientific methods

Answer 3

Name: A strength of the biological approach is that it employs highly scientific methods of research to investigate genetics, drug treatments and the localisation of brain functions.

Explain: this is a strength as the scientific methods are standardised and so they are able to be repeated and therefore test for reliability. For example MRI scans and lab experiments are scientific as they are highly controlled, clear and objective (measurable)

Evidence: For example, this approach employs MRI scans to investigate the brain and the areas of the brain that are argued to be responsible for certain disorders and behaviours such as language processing.

Consequence: This is a strength because it means that research findings on localisation, for instance, provides empirical evidence which is both objective and reliable

Question 4

(+) Practical applications

Answer 4

Name: The biological approach has had many useful practical applications.

Explain: this means that its theories and research findings on the effects of genetics and biological processes have been applied outside the laboratory and thus have external validity.

Evidence: for example, the biological approach has been used to develop drugs to treat mental illnesses E.G. Antidepressants.

Consequence: this is a strength because it shows that the approach is useful and has been applied to help improve the quality of peoples lives. As drug treatment works and is based on biological theory, it suggests that the biological approach is much more likely to be correct.