The biological approach

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  • The biological approach
    • Assumptions
      • The focus of this approach is on genetics, neurotransmitters, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy etc. From studying damaged brains, we can find out about the working of the 'normal' brain
      • How the nervous system and hormones work, how the brain functions, and how changes in structure and/or function can affect their behaviour. E.g how drugs treat depression effect behaviour with their interaction with the nervous system.
      • Investiggation of inheritance (genetics) through twin studies and concordance rates. Monozygotic twins - identical and share 100% genetic info. Dizygotic = non - identical sharing 50% of info.
      • Comparative method, different species of animals can be studied and compared
    • Genetics
      • Some psychological disorders can be more prevalent amongst family members
        • Gottesman (1991) found a 48% concordance rate in depression
    • Biochemistry
      • Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that are used as messengers between nerve cells and electric impulses to the brain. Eg people with depression are found to have reduced levels of serotonin.
    • Brain structure
      • Physical abnormality in the brain can be linked to psychology abnormality
        • People with schizophrenia tend to have large ventricles than the normal population.
    • Neuro surgery
      • H.M. suffered such devastating epileptic fits that in the end a surgical technique that had never been used before was tried out.This technique cured his epilepsy, but in the process the hippocampus had to be removed (this is part of the limbic system in the middle of the brain.) Afterwards H.M. was left with severe anterograde amnesia. I.e. He could remember what happened to him in his life up to when he had the operation but he couldn’t remember anything new. So now we know the hippocampus is involved in memory.
    • Electroencephalograms
      • This is a way of recording the electrical activity of the brain (It doesn’t hurt and it isn’t dangerous!). Electrodes are attached to the scalp and brain waves can be traced. EEGs have been used to study sleep and it has been found that during a typical night’s sleep, we go through a series of stages marked by different patterns of brain wave.
    • Strengths
      • 1.Viewed as objective, based on science
      • 2.Sympathetic approach
      • 3.Deterministic explanation removes blame
      • 4.Research greatly increased understanding of causes and treatments
      • 5.Reduced fear of those with mental disorders
    • Weaknesses
      • 1.Removing responsibility – allows person to relinquish blame
      • 2.Reductionist – ignores other factors
      • 3.Side effects of treatments may be negative
      • 4.Ethical issues of labelling
      • 5.Diagnostic manuals are works of culture – raising questions of validity and reliability

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