There are various models that attempt to approach the explanations of abnormality these are the biomedical model, psychoanalytical, behaviourist and cognitive. Identification of the four psychological explanations of abnormality will be explained throughout this essay. Evaluation of the psychological explanations will also be included and a conclusion of research that has been found.
Lawton, J (2009) said that the biological model believes that abnormalities are caused by biological processes in the structure and function of the brain. The biological model is the dominant in earl 20th century in the western culture. There are four biological factors that can cause an abnormality such as brain damage, bacterial infections and viruses, biochemistry …show more content…
The approach believes that all behaviour is learnt by classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning was proposed by Ivan Pavlov when he noticed that his dogs would start to salivate when they heard the sound of the owner’s footsteps. He noticed that the dogs had associated footsteps with food. Pavlov classically conditioned the dogs to salivate when hearing a bell before giving them food. (Gross, R. Rolls, G. 2008) Operant conditioning was proposed by B.F Skinner who believed that behaviour is learnt through reinforcement. Positive reinforcement gets rewarded with good behaviour for example, when a baby claps people smile at the baby which is known as a positive reinforcement encouraging the baby to clap again. Negative reinforcement gets rewarded with bad behaviour for example, when a child misbehaves a parent would tell the child of by shouting. (Gross, R. Rolls, G. 2008) The behavioural model has led to behavioural treatments and therapies that have been very effective with certain types of disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorders and phobias. Although on the other hand the behavioural treatments and therapies have not been successful with other serious disorders. Paul and Lentz (1977) discovered that patients behaved in a desirable manner when rewarded and seemed to have worked well with schizophrenics. However the desirable behaviour becomes dependent on the rewards therefore when the rewards cease so does the behaviour. (Lawton, J. 2009) The behavioural model is scientific due to research and experiments that have been carried out regularly. However, due to the studies that have been conducted on animals the approach is not reliable because how animals portray behaviours can be different to humans. The behavioural model removes the label of being ‘ill’ and the stigma that is attached to it. The approach explains mental
Lawton, J (2009) said that the biological model believes that abnormalities are caused by biological processes in the structure and function of the brain. The biological model is the dominant in earl 20th century in the western culture. There are four biological factors that can cause an abnormality such as brain damage, bacterial infections and viruses, biochemistry …show more content…
The approach believes that all behaviour is learnt by classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning was proposed by Ivan Pavlov when he noticed that his dogs would start to salivate when they heard the sound of the owner’s footsteps. He noticed that the dogs had associated footsteps with food. Pavlov classically conditioned the dogs to salivate when hearing a bell before giving them food. (Gross, R. Rolls, G. 2008) Operant conditioning was proposed by B.F Skinner who believed that behaviour is learnt through reinforcement. Positive reinforcement gets rewarded with good behaviour for example, when a baby claps people smile at the baby which is known as a positive reinforcement encouraging the baby to clap again. Negative reinforcement gets rewarded with bad behaviour for example, when a child misbehaves a parent would tell the child of by shouting. (Gross, R. Rolls, G. 2008) The behavioural model has led to behavioural treatments and therapies that have been very effective with certain types of disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorders and phobias. Although on the other hand the behavioural treatments and therapies have not been successful with other serious disorders. Paul and Lentz (1977) discovered that patients behaved in a desirable manner when rewarded and seemed to have worked well with schizophrenics. However the desirable behaviour becomes dependent on the rewards therefore when the rewards cease so does the behaviour. (Lawton, J. 2009) The behavioural model is scientific due to research and experiments that have been carried out regularly. However, due to the studies that have been conducted on animals the approach is not reliable because how animals portray behaviours can be different to humans. The behavioural model removes the label of being ‘ill’ and the stigma that is attached to it. The approach explains mental