EXPLANATIONS OF ICD (ISSUES DEBATES/ EVAL)

Question 1

Strength/ weakness of biological explanation for ICD’s?

Answer 1

Strength: Strong emperical evidence- pharmacological evidence- dopamine antagonists (Parkinson’s medication can trigger ICD’s). PET scans consistently show dopamine dysfunction in ICD patients. Based on measurable biological data (brain scans, genetic markers) thus more objective than self-reports.
Weakness= Biologically reductionist as it oversimilfies complex human behaviour to biological mechanisms, overlooking the influence of psychological, cognitive or socaial factors in ICD’s. Not everyone with low dopamine develops ICD’s

Question 2

Biological explanation- biological determinism

Answer 2

biological explanations ignore influence of free-will as it implies that dopamine dysregulation deterministically/ inevitably causes compulsive behaviours- removes personal agency (dissilusionment- ‘no point in trying’ . Ignores the efficacy of psychological treatments.

Question 3

Strengths and weakness of behavioural explanations

Answer 3

Strength- strong emperical evidence- Skinner’s operant conditioning studies demonstrate how variable reinforcement schedules (e.g., slot machines) create persistent, compulsive behaviours.
Weakness- reductionist as it overlookes why only some go on to develop ICD’s despite being exposed to same reinforcement technqiues (genetic vulnerabilities). Overlookes cognitive processes such as irrational beliefs ‘i will win next time’

No everyone exposed to the slot machines (which use variable reinforcement go on to develop ICD’s)- so there MUST be other reasons like genetics

Question 4

Behavioral explanation- determinism vs free will

Answer 4

Suggests people with ICD’s are passive victims of reinforcement ignoring self-regulation and moral responsibility.

Question 5

Strengths and weaknesses of cognitive explanation (Miller’s feeling states)

Answer 5

Strengths- explanatory power- focuses on maladaptive thought patterns and cognitive biases to explain why only some develop ICD’s. Studies show that ICD patients exhibit many cognitive distortions (gamblers fallacy, memory bias, illusory control)
Weakness- reductionism as it overlooks links between dopamine and ICD’s, genetic predispositions.

Question 6

Behavioural explanation- free will

Answer 6

CBT assumes patients can “choose” to change thoughts.

Question 7

Cognitive explanation- holism

Answer 7

Integrates emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in the role of ICD’s

Question 8

Nature vs Nurture debate on ICD’s- is it nature or is nurture>

Answer 8

Nature- biological explanations suggest genetic predispositions, neurochemical dysfunctions, brain abnoramalities (evidence- PET scans show reduced D2 receptors in gambler’s brain/ dopamine agonists trigger ICD’s)
Nurture- behavioural explanations- variable reinforcement schemes reinforce complusions. Social learning- parental modelling, socioeconomic factors.

Question 9

Nomothetic debate?

Answer 9

Nomothetic approach- biological, behavioural and cognitive studies.
Strengths- large-scale studies provide reliable and objective data.
Weaknesses- overlooks individual differences/ reductionist