Chapter 1: Biological Approach Assumptions Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the key assumption of the biological approach?

A

All behaviours can be explained at the level of functioning of our biological systems

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2
Q

What are the three general ‘strands’ of the biological approach?

A
  1. The physiological approach
  2. The nativist approach
  3. The medical model
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3
Q

What is the physiological approach?

A

This approach believes that all behaviour is due to the functioning of the internal body parts - the brain, the nervous system, hormones and chemicals.

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4
Q

What is the nativist approach?

A

This approach is based on the assumption that all behaviour is inherited; behaviour is passed down through genes from on generation to the next.

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5
Q

What is the medical model?

A

This refers to the treatment of physiological disorders based on the same principles used to treat physical diseases. The argument is that psychological problems ultimately have a physical cause and thus can be treated using physical (medical) methods.

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6
Q

What research methods are used in the biological approach?

A

Brain scans (e.g MRI or PET scans) Lab experiments (e.g double blind trials)

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7
Q

What therapy is used in the biological approach, and what does it do?

A

Drug therapy, it alters neurotransmitter levels which then reduce the symptoms of mental illness

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8
Q

Is drug therapy effective? Is it invasive?

A

•It is effective in reducing symptoms of mental illness •it is non invasive

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9
Q

Is the biological approach nature or nurture?

A

It is purely nature (scientific)

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10
Q

How scientific is the biological assumption?

A

Completely scientific

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11
Q

How objective and controlled is the biological assumption research?

A

The research is strictly controlled and any objectivity is eliminated by double blind trials

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12
Q

Is the biological approach reductionist or holistic, what does this mean?

A

• reductionist - it reduces a set of complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations

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13
Q

Is the biological approach deterministic? What does that mean?

A

Yes, we have no control over our behaviours, they are purely the result of our biology

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14
Q
A
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15
Q

Is the biological approach nomothetic or idiographic? What does this mean?

A

• nomothetic - it looks to make generalisations about people, to explain behaviour by universal laws

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