Evaluation Of Biological Area Flashcards
(10 cards)
Principles -
1) all human behaviour has a direct physical cause such as nervous system brain genetics and chemicals
2) scientific approach to investigate observable and measurable changes
Ethical or not
Gerry ally ethical as research into biological area is often ethical as participants give consent and tasks are not distressing etc scientific.
Scientific or not -
Uses scientific equipment, experiments and high levels of controls
Deterministic or Freewill -
Deterministic - determined that only behaviour and activists in the brain determine behaviour biologically
Socially sensitive ?
Can be for example in looking at generic causes of behaviour, but not always socially sensitive as looks at factors which doesn’t have wider implications
Individual or situational ?
Individual as behaviour comes from within the person for example brain activity.
Reductionist or holistic -
Reductionist as it suggests that behaviours and moods are only due to biological behaviours and not anything other factor such as environment and social factors
Useful?
Increased knowldege about biological causes of behaviour and practical applications such as medication for mental illnesses such as depression to change chemical imbalances, medication for sex offenders and criminals to help lower hormones,
Strength of biological area
1) good scientific status and credibility due to its use of controooed investigations and scientific equipment. Boosts reputation of psychology.
2) useful area as what we learn from this area allows to make practical applications
Weakness of biological area
1) considered as deterministic. Implies behaviour beyond the control of the individual rather than the chosen due to being a result of brain function
2) Reductionist - resesrch only turns into brain structure and functioning to explain behaviour and doesn’t acknowledge other factors such as practical applications and that target only biological factors may be infective
