Outline and Evaluate the Biological Approach to Abnormality

Outline and Evaluate the Biological Approach to AbnormalityThe biological approach to abnormality suggests that mental disorders have a physical cause. The focus on this approach is on genetics, brain damage, chemical balance and infection. Neurotransmitters and hormones have a key role in our behaviour, too much or too little can have adverse effects. For example depression has been found to be linked with low levels of serotonin. Abnormal behaviour can also occur if the brain is damaged in some way. For example people with schizophrenia tend to have larger ventricles than usual, and those who drink and use drugs have been known to develop mental issues because of the brain damage. Genetics could also have a large role in psychopathy. There is evidence that a first degree relative has a 10% chance of developing schizophrenia, this is considerably higher than the general population (1% chance). McGuffin did a study that assessed concordance rates of depression between MZ and DZ twins. MZ twins showed a 46% concordance rate while the concordance rate in DZ twins was 20%. However if genetics were the sole cause of psychopathy then the concordance rate between MZ twins would have been 100% because they have the same genes. This supports the idea that this approach is reductionist and it is more likely that psychopathy is caused by a range of other things e.g. the living environment.Drugs also should work remarkably well in curing psychopathy if the disorder is purely psychical. 50-60% of patients showed signs of recovery when given a drug treatment. Although a relatively high percentage it is not 100%, so again it cannot be only physical things causing the psychopathy.A strength of this theory is that is removes blame and stigma from the patient. Stigma arises because the psychopathy is perceived to be that patient's fault, however the biological approach suggests that the abnormality is out of the persons hands and should therefore be regarded the same as a physical illness.

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