BIOLOGICAL APPROACH: STRENGTHS + WEAKNESS

Question 1

a strength of the biological approach is that it is scientific. how does this compare to other approaches +why is this a strength?

Answer 1

• A strength is that the biological approach is arguably the most scientific of all the approaches,
• furthering public perception of the psychological discipline and aligning with psychology’s aspired scientific status.

Question 2

give an example of this scientific approach within the biological approach.

Answer 2

The biological approach demonstrates that behaviours can be explained in terms of the brain:
1. neurotransmitters,
2. localisation of brain function,
3. and selectively inherited genes.

Question 3

why is this a strength?

Answer 3

• These methods abide by research principles
• – conducting objective, controlled studies with operationalised variables,
• enhancing psychology’s status as a scientific discipline.

Question 4

give an example of where this strength has been sucessfully applied?

Answer 4

1. For instance, drug therapy abides by scientific principles;
2. SSRIs are effective – presupposed by causality between low serotonin levels + depression.

Question 5

in summary, why is this a strength?

Answer 5

Thus, a strength of the biological approach is that it
* * lends itself* to rigorous methodology
* that reinforces its theoretical assumptions.

Question 6

how is this a strength in comparison to approaches?

Answer 6

• This is advantageous over the psychodynamic approach,
• which relies on unfalsifiable concepts.

Question 7

a weakness of the biological approach is that it is scientific. how has it become reductionist? how is it reductionist?

Answer 7

• A weakness of the biological approach is that in developing scientific understanding it becomes reductionist.
• Biological explanations reduce many complex behaviours to simplified explanations.

Question 8

give an example of how and where it is reductionist.

Answer 8

For example, attributing stress to hormonal adrenaline action.

Question 9

evalaute the reductionist limitation.

Answer 9

• Whilst this is part of understanding system operation,
• it may lose understanding of the** subject of investigation**,
• inconsiderate of exogenous factors, like ongoing abuse that could be contributing to disorder.

Question 10

give a psychological example highlighting this disadvantage.

Answer 10

• Laing (1965) opposed reductionist views of disorder
• – excluding the distressing experiences that accompany mental illness offers an unrepresentative explanation.

may be worth mentioning Laing is a psychiatrist!!

Question 11

what can this reductionist approach lead to?

Answer 11

It can lead to
1. symptom substitution
2. patient invalidation.

Question 12

how is this a disadvantage compared to other approaches?

Answer 12

• This is disadvantageous compared to the cognitive approach,
• which examines negative perception which may be causing distress.

Question 13

another weakness of the approach is that it is nomeothetic. how?

Answer 13

• A further weakness is that it is nomothetic.
• It establishes general laws –
  1. evolutionary drives that govern all behaviour
  2. + asserts common biological functioning.

Question 14

however, the biological approach may not be nomothetic. how?

Answer 14

Methodological flaws may compromise the assumption of unified biological functioning.

Question 15

give an example of this metholdogical flaw and its potential consequence.

Answer 15

• Research on biological systems have shown androcentric bias, excluding female participants as hormonal variability could confound results.
• Consequently, findings could produce a view of behaviour inconsiderate of sex differences – thus erroneous.

Question 16

give an example of this from psychology.

Answer 16

Taylor et al. (2000) **
* found that unlike the male ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response,
* females adopt the ‘tend-and-befriend**’,
* characterised by greater nurture and seeking female interpersonal support.

Question 17

how is this disdavantageous compared to other approaches?

Answer 17

• This is disadvantageous compared to the positive approach,
• which, whilst aiming to be complementary, adopts an idiographic focus, recognising individual differences in both circumstantial and genetic factors

Question 18

why is this ultimately a disdavantage?

Answer 18

• Therefore, adopting a nomothetic approach to an idiographic system is a weakness,
• as it could translate to ineffective treatment.

Question 19

CONCLUSION

Question 20

synthesise the strengths.

Answer 20

In conclusion, the biological approach
* has established an **empirical evidence-base **
* to understand the psyche as a function of the body.

Question 21

synthesise the weaknesses (nature vs nurture, deterministic).

Answer 21

• However, its firmly naturist, hard deterministic stance
• means it should be offered as an integrative component in a holistic explanationof human behaviour.

Question 22

synthesise its OVERALL weakness (all that is psychological is physical).

Answer 22

• Conflating the physical with the psychological
• **excludes the phenomenological aspects **of the human condition,
• thereby at best, offers reductionism.