Biological - Evaluate

Question 1

Scientific - strength

Answer 1

• biological explanations have clear variables that can be measured, tracked, examined - enables to conduct scientific research studying these variables
• Example -drug therapy investigated link between psychoactive drugs and productions of certain nt, and linked this to behaviour
• Raine et al used PET Scans
• scientific = fulfil the aims of scientific research conduct objective, well-controled studies, demostrate casual relationships
• strength of approach = scientific research can be used to support bio explanations

Question 2

Determinist - strength

Answer 2

• if we know what predetermines our behaviour we are more likely to be able to treat abnormal behaviour
• psychologists seek to understand the functioning of nt to predict effects of nt on behaviour
• dopamine linked to schizophrenia -,developed antipsychotic to reduce symptoms
• strength - enable to control world . understand that prolonged stress cause physical illness = can reduce effects by treating stress
  = provides explanations about causes of behaviour

Question 3

Successful applications

Answer 3

• many successful applications
• research into abnormal levels of nt and criminal behaviour
• research - Somooro et al
• Cherek et al - males with criminal behaviour had reduced levels of aggression and impulsivity after 21 day course on SSRI antidepressant

Question 4

Reductionist - weakness

Answer 4

• biological explanations reduce complex behaviours to simple explanations
• For example - reducing experiecne of stress to action of adrenaline
• may lose real understanding of the thing investigated
• simplified explanation may prevent us reaching a true understanding of behaviour, incomplete explanation

Question 5

Nature - weakness

Answer 5

• mental illness have multiple causes - biological only focuses on biology, ignoring life experiences, psychological factors like how people think and feel
• biological approach to explain schizophrenia = abnormal levels of certain nt rather than how patients feel about their illness
• therfore concerned with adjusting abnormal bio systems rather than talking to patients about how they feel

Question 6

Individual differences - weakness

Answer 6

• nomothetic approach, make generalisations + find similarities. = ignores individual diff
• Example - when stressed some produce higher level of adrenaline than others = affects long-terms effects of stress
• approach assumes everyone bio systems behave in same way
• research tends to use male rather than women