biological approach Flashcards
weakness: BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
approach states individual is controlled by internal factors, genes and neurochemicals, these inevitably cause behaviour, inheriting PCM1 gene leading to schizophrenia, neglects role of free will and choice, leave individuals feeling like no control over their behaviour, limits appropriateness
weakness: BIOLOGICAL REDUCTIONISM
reduces complex human behaviour down to simple basic units, genes and neurochemicals such as imbalance of dopamine causing SZ, neglects a holistic approach which takes into account how persons culture and social context influence behaviour, approach may lack validity as can’t understand behaviour in context
strength: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
principles of theory that behaviour caused by imbalance of neurotransmitters led to treatments such as SSRIS, found effective in treating disorders such as OCD and depression, block re uptake of serotonin, leads to decreased anxiety, important part of applied psych
strength: SCIENTIFIC METHODS
used scientific enquiry to investigate behaviour, based on objective and empirical techniques such as gene mapping and PET scans to identify different types of LTM, increases overall internal validity, raises scientific status
