Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Biological Approach

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Main premises standing behind the science of psychology are an explanation and differentiation between a normal and abnormal behaviour. The way how a society perceived and described the abnormal behaviour has been evaluating throughout the years. Although, these days, two of the most popular models deserve a particular attention. The first one called the biological approach, believes that the abnormal behaviour has its source in a physical difficulties. Second one, the behaviourist approach assumes that the abnormal behaviour depends on the environmental influence.

The major aim of the biological approach is that, if there is an existence of any physical abnormality, then there is also a possibility of restoring that abnormality by using
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This method, used in the past, was largely abandoned after the discovery of the antipsychotic drugs. In the UK, it is recommended only in extreme cases.
Third approach, psychosurgery, is a procedure which involves cutting out or burning brain nerves that are responsible for the disorder.
The biological approach has got its strengths and weaknesses. One of the most obvious positives is that the biological model makes easier to understand that the particular mental disorder is due to chance rather than the fault of the individual. In consequence, this means that mental abnormalities are generally more understood in today’s society.
One of the weaknesses of this method is that it is focused on physical causes and in most cases ignores environmental sources. Also, by providing a reduced knowledge to people this approach may insinuate that their mental well being depends mostly on medication and health care they receive. Lastly, no matter how effective drugs and ECT may be, drugs still can have side effects, may create physical and psychological dependency, as well as it is still unclear how ECT actually
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Also, presented behavioural approaches are very useful in changing abnormal behaviour in adults and children.
However, the major disadvantage of this approach is that it takes an account only what is observable and measurable, with a degree of avoidance to various aspects of an individual such biological cause.
Behaviourism does not take other types of learning to account, especially those that occur without the use of punishment. Another negative is that behavioural models do not acknowledge that even if a previous behaviour has been established with the use of reinforcement, personalities are still able to readjust their behaviour if new circumstances are proposed.

Both, the biological and behaviourist approaches display very engaging and important models of psychology of abnormality. However, either of these approaches alone can deliver the key to the best treatment to an individual unless they work together in close cooperation. Therefore in most cases it is not an easy task to establish a one, clear cause of abnormality, as really often it is a complex issue that contains the physical source, as well as the environmental influence at

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