The Biological Approach To Psychopathology

Question 0

Assumptions of the biological model:

Abnormality is caused by biological factors. What is all behaviour associated with?

Answer 0

All behaviour is associated with changes in brain function

Question 1

What are approaches to psychopathology based on?

Answer 1

Different views of the CAUSE of abnormality. The models have different views about how abnormality comes about in the first place

Question 2

Assumptions of the biological model:

Abnormality is caused by biological factors. What is abnormal behaviour caused by?

Answer 2

Changes in either the structure of the brain or function of the brain

Question 3

Assumptions of the biological model:
Abnormality is caused by biological factors. Give an example of a change in a specific part of the brain that can be linked to an eating disorder

Answer 3

A damages hypothalamus has been linked to anorexia

Question 4

Assumptions of the biological model:

Abnormality is caused by biological factors. What are low and high levels of serotonin linked to?

Answer 4

Low levels are linked to depression. High levels are linked to anxiety

Question 5

Assumptions of the biological model: abnormality is inherited. How are abnormal genes inherited?

Answer 5

They are passed down from parents to children even though they may not be shown in every generation l

Question 6

Assumptions of the biological model: abnormality is inherited. What is a concordance rate?

Answer 6

Concordance rate is how likely a disorder is going to affect you based on genetics

Question 7

Assumptions of the biological model: abnormality is inherited. What are used to establish concordance rates?

Answer 7

Family, twin and adoption studies

Question 8

Assumptions of the biological model: abnormality is inherited. Give and example of a concordance rate for an abnormality

Answer 8

Holland et al (1988) found a 56% concordance rate for identical twins and only a 5% concordance rate for non identical twins in anorexia nervosa. This supports the idea of a genetic basis for abnormality

Question 9

Evaluation of the biological model: strengths. What is the physiological evidence in support of the model

Answer 9

The use of brain scans and other modern techniques has identified and provided support for the biological aspects of many psychological disorders.

Question 10

Evaluation of the biological model: strengths. What are the psychological disorders that have physiological evidence?

Answer 10

Depression seems to be associated with low levels of serotonin. Schizophrenia has been linked to over activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine

Question 11

Evaluation of the biological model: strengths. How is success of its treatments a strength of the biological model

Answer 11

It has contributed to the formation of effective treatments like drug therapies such as ssri’s that reduce the effects of depression.

Question 12

Evaluation of the biological model: strengths. How do SSRI’s work

Answer 12

Evaluation of the biological model: limitations. Is the biological model reductionist, if so why is it bad

Question 13

Evaluation of the biological model: limitations. Is the biological model reductionist, if so why is this a bad thing

Answer 13

It tries to explain psychological disorders by breaking them down to the most basic level. i.e in terms of biological changes in the brain rather than looking more generally at possible environmental influences.

Question 14

Evaluation of the biological model: limitations. Why is it important to have a study of both biology and environmental influences

Answer 14

Because we know for example that depression is linked to low serotonin levels but we also know that these can be caused by environmental stresses

Question 15

Evaluation of the biological model: limitations. No psychological disorder is purely genetic.

Answer 15

Although a genetic basis has been found for some psychological disorders. Concordance rates are never 100%. Eg gottesman and shields found a concordance rate of 50% for twins. If schizophrenia was entirely the product of genetic inheritance the figure would have to be 100%. You inherit a possibility of developing disorder but it only developed under stressful life conditions.