Biological Approach to Psychopathology

Created by: rae ashurst
Created on: 07-04-13 17:34

How does the biological approach view mental disorders?

Assumes that all mental disorders are related to some change in the body. Mental disorders the like physical disorders i.e. they are illnesses.

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What are mental disorders caused by?

Genes, biochemistry, neuroanatomy or viral infection.

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What are the strengths of this approach?

Scientific/experimental basis for the claims of this approach, development of effective physiological treatments, abnormality is explained through physical causes and is thought of as an illness- 'no blame approach' - humane treatment.

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What are the limitations of this approach?

No wholly genetic explanation for psychological abnormality, cause and effect relationships are difficult to establish, critics dispute that abnormality has a biological basis and point to its medicalisation as another form of social power.

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What are the methods of investigating the biological approach?

Experiments and correlational studies.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are mental disorders caused by?

Back

Genes, biochemistry, neuroanatomy or viral infection.

Card 3

Front

What are the strengths of this approach?

Back

Card 4

Front

What are the limitations of this approach?

Back

Card 5

Front

What are the methods of investigating the biological approach?

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Biological Approach to Psychopathology