General Approach Evaluations

Question 1

Determinism

Answer 1

STRENGTH: Assumes a ‘cause’ for behaviour, which makes behaviour predictable so treatments can be developed

WEAKNESS: Underplays free will, so issues for blame, responsibility and accountability

Question 2

Reductionism

Answer 2

STRENGTH: Reducing behaviour to one cause so allows in depth study so more likely to develop treatments

WEAKNESS: Limits understanding of behaviour as not consider how factors interact together

Question 3

Applications

Answer 3

STRENGTH: Applications help in therapy, and if therapy successful shows assumptions that underpin approach are true

WEAKNESS: No therapy has complete success for everyone and often best when combined, so still doesn’t provide complete treatment

Question 4

Idiographic

Answer 4

STRENGTH: Acknowledges uniqueness of human behaviour and individual difference so more personalised treatment

WEAKNESS: No laws generated about behaviour so difficult for scientific study

Question 5

Nature/ Nurture

Answer 5

STRENGTH: No strengths for being either nature or nurture

WEAKNESS: Ignores factors that play significant role in behaviour so better to be interactionist

Question 6

Scientific

Answer 6

STRENGTH: Adds credibility and more believable so more likely to be applied in policy to benefit society

WEAKNESS: Too scientific can lack ecological validity so not a true representation of human behaviour