Abnoramility RE: Explaining Abnormaility - Biological Approach

Explaining Abnormality:

Biological Approach

Abnormal behaviour has physical causes.

(1) Brain Damage (Neurodevelopmental influence)

Possible causes:
- Viral infections or other influences during foetal development
- Birth trauma
- Post natal influences (e.g. drugs, bacteria, viruses, etc.)

(2)  Faulty regulation of brain biochemistry

-         There are higher concentrations of dopamine in the brains of schizophrenics (Iverson, 1979)

-         Cocaine and amphetamine indirectly stimulate dopamine receptors and (a) induce a schizophrenics-like disorder or (b) exacerbate symptoms in schizophrenics.

(3) Genetic factors

-         Studying identical twins

-         Key measure in these studies is the concordance rate (CR)

-         CR – The probability that a second twin will develop a disorder given that the first twin already has.

Concordance = 3/5 x100 = 60%

-         Studies of children whose parents have a mental disorder, but who have been adopted by ‘normal’ parents

Biological approaches:

-         Brain damage – Psychosurgery

-         Faulty regulation of brain biochemistry – Psychotherapeutic drugs

-         Gene factors – ‘Gene therapy’ (not YET for mental disorders)

-         ECT – Faulty regulation of brain biochemistry

Evaluating Psychosurgery

-         Was very rarely effective in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia

-         Any operation was (and is) irreversible

-         Survivors experienced many side effects

-         Now mainly used as a last resort therapy in cases of depression and OCD

-         Psychosurgery raises fundamental ethical issues (e.g. informed consent, use as an agent of social control, human rights, dignity, etc.)