Evaluating the biological approach

Question 1

What are the weaknesses?

Answer 1

Reductonistic
Nature rather than nurture
Individual differences (nomothetic)

Question 2

How is the approach reductionistic?

Answer 2

Reduce complex behaviours down to simple explanations such as schizophrenia being caused by high dopamine
They lose sight of the conditon as a whole

Question 3

How is the approach only focusing on nature?

Answer 3

Behaviour can have many causes but this only focuses on the biological ones and ignores psychological and enviromental factors
Ignores how the patients think and feel about their condition

Question 4

How is the approach nomothetic?

Answer 4

It makes generalisations about behaviour and ignores the differences between people such as the fact that men have the fight or flight response but women tend and befriend

Question 5

What are the strengths of the approach?

Answer 5

Scientific
Deterministic
Application

Question 6

How is the approach scientific?

Answer 6

Bioligical explanations have clear variables that can be masured objectively where research is in controlled studies
Eg: Raine

Question 7

Why is the deterministic nature of the approach a strength?

Answer 7

If we know what determines behaviour, we are more able to treat it
Eg: stress or schizophrenia

Question 8

How can the approach be applied to the real world?

Answer 8

Drug therapy

Enables people with mental disorders to live normal lives