The Biological model of abnormality
Key assumptions of the medical/biological model
The biological model that all psychological disorders have a physical cause (for example genetics,
anatomy, biochemistry etc). The model believes that there must be something in the structure or
function of the brain which is responsible for causing psychological problems.
One example of this might be the dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia. This suggests that excess
dopamine (a neurotransmitter used parts of the brain) is a factor in creating the symptoms of
schizophrenia.
Applications of the model
The medical model is the dominant model in the diagnosis and treatment of most (but not all)
psychological conditions.
Many treatments are biologically-based (drug therapies are the most common treatment, but surgery
and ECT may also be used depending on the condition). Drugs may be effective but often have side-
effects. However, the effectiveness of medical treatments does not guarantee that the disorders have a
medical origin. The model is not relevant to all psychological conditions (for example eating disorders)
The model focuses on the physical symptoms, rather than the psychological thoughts and feelings of
patients.
General evaluations of biological explanations
Biological explanations are reductionist as they focus on only biological factors such as chemicals or
hormones and ignore psychological factors. Biological explanations are deterministic because they
ignore the individual’s ability to control their own behaviour. Biological explanations are not consistent
with the success rate for cognitive therapies. Also the success of combination therapies suggests more
than one cause. They can, however, be the easiest explanation for the patient to accept (as it takes the
blame away from them and their actions for their condition)
The Behavioural model of abnormality
• Key assumptions of the behavioural model
You should remember Behaviourism from your AS work. If you can't remember the key ideas such as
operant and classical conditioning, then go back here and re-read the AS introduction page first.
Behaviourists believe that all behaviour (good or bad) is learned through our interaction with the
environment. This applies to abnormal behaviour as well, so a psychological condition is simply a
learned response to a particular set of environmental stimuli. For example, phobias may arise from
classical conditioning, where we come to associate a stimulus (e.g. dogs) with a response (e.g. fear)
following a negative incident. Symptoms could then be positively reinforced, for instance with attention
and sympathy from friends and family. Social learning theory could play a part too.
, Applications of the model
The model is a simple and effective method of explaining and treating some psychological conditions
(such as phobias).However, for others it seems to be oversimplistic and reduce a complex condition
(such as schizophrenia) to simple processes of reinforcement. This seems wrong. Therapy is often cheap
and easy to perform (e.g. systematic desensitisation for phobias). There can be ethical issues with some
treatments, which expose people to stressful environments.
Psychodynamic models of abnormality
Assumptions of the psychodynamic model of abnormality
Freud's personality theory of the id, ego and superego are crucial to his explanations of mental illness.
Disorders arise from conflict between the id, ego and superego. For example, if the superego becomes
dominant over the other two, Freud believed that the person would suffer anxiety. As you will
remember from Little Hans, Freud also thought that early childhood experiences and the unconscious
were crucial to the formation of psychological disorders. Schizophrenia, for example, was explained as a
"regression to the oral stage of development".
Applications of the model
Psychodynamic therapy was very influential in the first half of the 20th century. It involves the use of
psychoanalysis, where the therapist uses techniques such as dream analysis, free association and
hypnosis to explore the patient's unconscious mind. Patients are not placed in institutions, and
therapists are supposed to be compassionate and understanding, where no judgment is made of the
patient. However, the therapy has not been found to be particularly effective, despite being a time-
consuming and expensive process. Therefore it is limited in its usefulness.
Treatments using the medical model
Remember that the medical model believes that all psychological disorders have a physical cause. They
therefore believe that psychological problems can be addressed by altering biological activity in the
brain. Types of biological treatments could include:
• Drugs
• ECT
• Surgery
How do drug treatments work? Brain cells (neurons) communicate with each other at junctions called
synapses, using chemicals called neurotransmitters. In normal functioning A nerve impulse reached the
end of the axon. Packets of neurotransmitters called vesicles are released and the neurotransmitter
diffuses across the synapse. The neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the other side of the synapse,
causing a nerve impulse to begin again in the next neuron. Drugs alter the levels of neurotransmitters,
so affect how the synapses work. Agonists are drugs which increase the activity of the synapse.
Antagonists are drugs which decrease the activity of the synapse.
Behavioural treatments of abnormality
Key assumptions of the medical/biological model
The biological model that all psychological disorders have a physical cause (for example genetics,
anatomy, biochemistry etc). The model believes that there must be something in the structure or
function of the brain which is responsible for causing psychological problems.
One example of this might be the dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia. This suggests that excess
dopamine (a neurotransmitter used parts of the brain) is a factor in creating the symptoms of
schizophrenia.
Applications of the model
The medical model is the dominant model in the diagnosis and treatment of most (but not all)
psychological conditions.
Many treatments are biologically-based (drug therapies are the most common treatment, but surgery
and ECT may also be used depending on the condition). Drugs may be effective but often have side-
effects. However, the effectiveness of medical treatments does not guarantee that the disorders have a
medical origin. The model is not relevant to all psychological conditions (for example eating disorders)
The model focuses on the physical symptoms, rather than the psychological thoughts and feelings of
patients.
General evaluations of biological explanations
Biological explanations are reductionist as they focus on only biological factors such as chemicals or
hormones and ignore psychological factors. Biological explanations are deterministic because they
ignore the individual’s ability to control their own behaviour. Biological explanations are not consistent
with the success rate for cognitive therapies. Also the success of combination therapies suggests more
than one cause. They can, however, be the easiest explanation for the patient to accept (as it takes the
blame away from them and their actions for their condition)
The Behavioural model of abnormality
• Key assumptions of the behavioural model
You should remember Behaviourism from your AS work. If you can't remember the key ideas such as
operant and classical conditioning, then go back here and re-read the AS introduction page first.
Behaviourists believe that all behaviour (good or bad) is learned through our interaction with the
environment. This applies to abnormal behaviour as well, so a psychological condition is simply a
learned response to a particular set of environmental stimuli. For example, phobias may arise from
classical conditioning, where we come to associate a stimulus (e.g. dogs) with a response (e.g. fear)
following a negative incident. Symptoms could then be positively reinforced, for instance with attention
and sympathy from friends and family. Social learning theory could play a part too.
, Applications of the model
The model is a simple and effective method of explaining and treating some psychological conditions
(such as phobias).However, for others it seems to be oversimplistic and reduce a complex condition
(such as schizophrenia) to simple processes of reinforcement. This seems wrong. Therapy is often cheap
and easy to perform (e.g. systematic desensitisation for phobias). There can be ethical issues with some
treatments, which expose people to stressful environments.
Psychodynamic models of abnormality
Assumptions of the psychodynamic model of abnormality
Freud's personality theory of the id, ego and superego are crucial to his explanations of mental illness.
Disorders arise from conflict between the id, ego and superego. For example, if the superego becomes
dominant over the other two, Freud believed that the person would suffer anxiety. As you will
remember from Little Hans, Freud also thought that early childhood experiences and the unconscious
were crucial to the formation of psychological disorders. Schizophrenia, for example, was explained as a
"regression to the oral stage of development".
Applications of the model
Psychodynamic therapy was very influential in the first half of the 20th century. It involves the use of
psychoanalysis, where the therapist uses techniques such as dream analysis, free association and
hypnosis to explore the patient's unconscious mind. Patients are not placed in institutions, and
therapists are supposed to be compassionate and understanding, where no judgment is made of the
patient. However, the therapy has not been found to be particularly effective, despite being a time-
consuming and expensive process. Therefore it is limited in its usefulness.
Treatments using the medical model
Remember that the medical model believes that all psychological disorders have a physical cause. They
therefore believe that psychological problems can be addressed by altering biological activity in the
brain. Types of biological treatments could include:
• Drugs
• ECT
• Surgery
How do drug treatments work? Brain cells (neurons) communicate with each other at junctions called
synapses, using chemicals called neurotransmitters. In normal functioning A nerve impulse reached the
end of the axon. Packets of neurotransmitters called vesicles are released and the neurotransmitter
diffuses across the synapse. The neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the other side of the synapse,
causing a nerve impulse to begin again in the next neuron. Drugs alter the levels of neurotransmitters,
so affect how the synapses work. Agonists are drugs which increase the activity of the synapse.
Antagonists are drugs which decrease the activity of the synapse.
Behavioural treatments of abnormality
