Biological approach-EVAL Flashcards
what is one strength of the biological approach?
seen as SCIENTIFIC as it uses OBJECTIVE measures such as BRAIN SCANS which will NOT be open to bias or opinion, and so this objectivity RAISES the scientific CREDIBILITY of the approach, therefore raising the INTERNAL VALIDITY as we are SURE we are measuring what we’re supposed to be.
Many biological approach studies also use STANDARDISES procedures in lab experiments, and so REPLICATION is possible. This raises the RELIABILITY of the studies and the B.A as a whole.
Reliability increase also means scientific credibility increases.
what is another strength of the biological approach?
it has REAL LIFE APPLICATION.
DRUG THERAPY has been developed due to research into biochemicals from the B.A. Therefore this is a strength as the real life application has formed a SUCCESSFUL drug therapy e.g. anti-depressants for depression.
the fact the drugs have been successful and are based on changing biochemical levels in the brain could also be seen as SUPPORT for the ROLE of biochemicals in behaviour, as suggested by the B.A.
However the TREATMENT CAUSATION FALLACY would disagree with this. Just because treatment reduces symptoms doesn’t mean that the CAUSE is biochemicals. This then questions the biochem explanation as a CAUSE of disorders, therefore questioning this element of the B.A
what is one issue with the biological approach?
The problem of VCAUSE + EFFECT.
If someone has a chemical imbalance e.g. low serotonin levels, and is also showing a behaviour such as OCD then it could be suggested that the CAUSE of the OCD was low serotonin.
However, it could equally be the case that the person has OCD, and as a result has low serotonin levels. Therefore, in this case low serotonin would be the effect of OCD and the cause is unknown.
This can be seen as an issue as it could be suggesting CAUSES based on BIOCHEMICALS, when they are only associations.
what is another weakness of the behavioural approach?
it is biologically DETERMINISTIC. (HARD determinism) as it suggests that bio factors e.g. bio-chems will LEAD to a behaviour and we have NO free will so no CHOICE in whether we perform the behaviour or not.
Therefore, this can be seen as a PESSIMISTIC view of behaviour. In terms of the B.A, it could also be at ODDS with our LEGAL system as one of the rules is that offenders are seen as legally and morally RESPONSIBLE for their actions, and this wouldn’t be the case if we had NO free will.
But this can also be a STRENGTh of the approach as determinism is in LINE with science and adds to the scientific CREDIBILITY of the B.A. This Is because determinism shows CASUE + EFFECT.
