EVALUATION OF BIO APPROACH

Question 1

SCIENTIFIC

Answer 1

• scientific: explains things through biological systems variable can be measured
• eg pet scans in raine
• psychosurgery involves removing parts of the brain that has areas linked to aggression
• FORCE

Question 2

DETERMINIST

Answer 2

• we know our behaviour is predetermined can predict the effects of biological functions when behaving normally and abnormally eg neurotransmitters
• eg domaine and schizophrenia amphetamine increases levels of dopamine causing symptoms of schizo
• antipsychotics reduce dopamine

Question 3

USEFUL

Answer 3

• eg abnormal levels of neurotransmitters and criminal behaviour led to pharmalogical treatments leading to lower recidivism
• Cherek et al males had lower aggression levels after 21 day course of SSRIs
• drug therapy

Question 4

REDUCTIONIST

Answer 4

• reduces complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations
• loose understanding of what we are investigating
• Laing says it ignores experience of distress that goes along with mental illness and is therefore an incomplete explanation
• simplified explanation prevents us reaching understanding of target behaviour

Question 5

NATURE

Answer 5

• ignores nurture and psychological factors such as thinking and feeling
• eg schizophrenia. Bio approach ignores how patients feel about their illness

Question 6

NOMOTHETIC

Answer 6

• ignores differences between people eg some people produce higher levels of adrenaline affecting long term effects of stress
• generalises that all biological systems work in the same way
• male rather than female ignoring hormone cycle
• Taylor et al males fight or flight females tend and befriend response difference attributed to oxytocin