Psychology Unit 3 strengths and weaknesses

Strength for cognitive approach to shopping

Research supports the link between trauma and shopping addiction- self-medication model.

Weakness for cognitive approach to shopping

Minimises the role of non-cognitive factors: may not be a traumatic event that caused their distress, but an inherited gene (e.g. genetic predisposition).

Strength for learning approach to shopping

Can explain gender differences in the types of products purchased through positive reinforcement (e.g. loyalty cards).

Weakness for learning approach to shopping

1. Ignores cognitive factors associated with addiction.

2. Ignores biological factors (e.g. genetic predisposition).

Strength for Learning approach to gambling

Lots of research support for explaining the role of positive reinforcement in gambling behaviour in a real life environment.

Weakness for learning approach to gambling

Doesnt take into account biological factors (e.g. genetic predisposition).

Strength for cognitive approach to gambling

Development of effective treatments based on cognitive approach. Treating cognitive distortions has been successful in reducing gambling behaviour e.g. use of CBT.

Weakness for cognitive approach to gambling

Doesnt take into account biological factors (e.g. genetic predisposition).

Strength for learning approach to alcohol

Has many practical applications and possibilities for treating alcohol addiction: helped to develop successful treatments.

Weakness for learning approach to alcohol

Doesnt take into account biological factors (e.g. genetic predisposition).

Strength for cognitive approach to alcohol

Lots of evidence for self-medication: Strong relationship between childhood trauma/distress and addiction.

Weakness for cognitive approach to alcohol

Doesnt take into account biological factors (e.g. genetic predisposition).

Strength for biological approach to smoking

Evidence to support the idea of predisposition and initiation of addiction to smoking.

Weakness for biological approach to smoking

There is evidence that not everyone regulates nicotine levels, so some people must smoke for non-biological reasons.

Strength for learning approach to smoking

There is evidence to support the role of conditioned cues in nicotine addiction. Showing addicts associate cues with nicotine and therefore makes them more likely to relapse.

Weakness for learning approach to smoking

Doesn’t take into account biological factors (e.g. genetic predisposition)

Strength of life events

Lots of evidence that life events are linked to illness. Life events therefore can be used to predict future illness.

Weakness of life events

The assumption is made that all life events are stressful, merging positive and negative life events. Some events are positive and can reduce stress.

Strength for daily hassles

Supported by many studies: evidence links daily hassles to illness and stress, so it is clear that they play a key role in stress overall.

Weakness for daily hassles

Research: people have to look back and recall the hassles they experienced. This recall could be biassed or inaccurate, meaning the research may not be reflecting the impacts of hassles accurately.

Strength of the workplace

The application of the theory is a strength as it can be applied to reduce stress in the workplace. This has led to improved well-being and quality of life for employees.

Weakness of the workplace

This is a culturally specific experience. In Western culture, workplaces where a lack of control is a feature is more desirable and therefore would reduce stress.

Strength of personality

There is research support for the link between type A personalities and stress related illness. This supports the idea that personality can predict stress-related illness.

Weakness of personality

Hardy personality lacks validity as the three C’s don’t contribute equally, so the idea may not be as useful in its practical application.

Physiological responses weaknesses

• The physiological stress response is different between males and females. GAS, SAM & HPA are biassed towards male physiology.

• There is more than just fight or flight as a response to acute stress. Another response, FREEZE, has been observed. This makes the fight or flight response an incomplete expanation.

Strength of stress and ill health

Studies have shown evidence that stress suppresses the immune system (immunosuppression) and can lead to many diseases, not just cardiovascular diseases.

Weakness of stress and ill health

Some stress can enhance the immune system and help protect the body against acute stressors.

Strength of Hovland Yale

The theory has been applied in the design of health campaigns, ensuring that they are targeted more effectively to gain the greatest change.

Weakness of Hovland Yale

Research does not support that people with low self-esteem are easier to persuade, and that means research contradicts the model.

Strength of Fear Arousal

There is research support for how fear is an important motivator of behaviour change. Therefore, the theory has practical use.

Weakness of Fear Arousal

The model does not take into account individual differences, such as those who may respond better to low levels of fear. Therefore, the application of this model will not be effective for all people.

Strength of Elaboration Likelihood

This has been applied to make health messaging more effective, particularly in meeting the requirements of hard to reach groups such as adolescents.

Weakness of Elaboration Likelihood

Does not explain how the messages affect attitudes and behaviours, therefore it cannot predict actual behaviour change but rather just the route of persuasion and attention for the person receiving the messages.

Strength for Health Belief

Strong credibility - It’s been developed by health researchers and practitioners.

Weakness for Health Belief

Based on the assumption that people make rational decisions about their health choices. However there are other psychological factors that are more important in behaviour change.

Strength for Locus of control

There is evidence to support the link between LoC and conformity. High external LoC may make them more vulnerable to risk factors for addiction.

Weakness for Locus of control

Link between LoC and stress is too simplistic. Being internal does not protect you from stress, it just means you get stressed for different reasons.

Strength for TOPB

Evidence to support how it predicts behaviour- found to accurately predict alcohol consumption for alcohol addicts.

Weakness for TOPB

TOPB is a poor predictor of long-term changes in behaviour and it ignores a key influence of behavioural change (stress).

Strength for Self-efficacy

Lots of Research supports the theory and its predictions. Therefore it is a reliable predictor of short and long-term health-related behaviour change.

Weakness for Self-efficacy

This is difficult to measure and define. This makes the evidence to support the benefits of the theory lack validity.

Strength for transtheoretical

Views behaviour change as a dynamic process, which is a realistic view of people’s experiences in changing behaviour.

Weakness for transtheoretical

There is little research support for the model, and therefore it is challenging to identify which treatments are appropriate at each stage.

Strength for CBT

Has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of substance addictions.

Weakness for CBT

CBT is hard work and involves homework, which means participants must be motivated to participate in the therapy.

Strength for SIT

SIT is flexible to suit the needs of individuals and can be applied to a variety of situations.

Weakness for SIT

SIT is complicated and there may be other treatments that are simpler and as effective.

Strength for Counselling

Deals with the trauma

Weakness for counselling

It is expensive and if people don't want to talk about their trauma then it’s useless. 

Strength for Guided self-help

There is research support that GSH significantly reduces stress in the medium term showing that it is effective

Weakness for Guided self-help

Not all forms of GSH are equally effective or useful as it is so flexible that it blurs the boundaries with other forms of therapy such as CBT.

Strength for Social support

Support can be applied to a range of cultures and settings.

Weakness for social support

There are gender differences in how people benefit from social support. Men prefer instrumental support, and women emotional support.

Strength for Skills Training

Evidence shows it is as effective as CBT in treating psychological addictions

Weakness for Skills training

The treatment is demanding for clients and requires high levels of motivation, effort and commitment. Homework is a feature which takes time.

Strength for Biofeedback

Research shows biofeedback is effective and improves the psychological state of people experiencing stress

Weakness for Biofeedback

Biofeedback does not work for everyone as it requires a lot of effort and motivation.

Strength for Mindfulness

It has wide application across a range of illnesses and settings. It is flexible and adaptable. 

Weakness for Mindfulness

Scientific research evidence has been inconclusive into whether it is any more effective than other forms of relaxation such as exercise or meditation.

Strength for NRT

Very effective and useful to help people stop smoking. Quick changes to quality of life for participants and reduced chances of relapse.

Weakness for NRT

It is not equally effective for all of those who experience addiction. Some may be addicted for other reasons than the nicotine rush, and therefore NRT does not solve the problem for them.

Strength for drug therapies (alcohol)

Research evidence supports the use of many drugs in the treatments for alcohol addiction.

Weakness for drug therapies

Drugs have side effects which may impact upon the individuals. Dependence is one such side effect, meaning drugs may only have a short term role in the treatment process

Strength for over-the-counter remedies

They can be used alongside other treatments to relieve stress making them useful as they can be used by many people and alongside other treatments

Weakness for over-the-counter remedies

There are side effects such as headaches and stomach disorders so the benefits need to be weighed up against the risk of side effects which may make psychological treatments a better option. 

Strength for Exercise

It can be interpreted flexibly to include many levels of physical activity making it useful for many people.

Weakness for Exercise

There is a risk of injury and there is a dependence on the runners ‘high’ for exercise.

Strength for reasons for non-adherence

For social support there is evidence that a lack of support links to non-adherence as adherence is lower in people who live alone, especially if they are older which shows that a lack of social support is an effective explanation for non-adherence.

Weakness for reasons for non-adherence

For learned helplessness there is little research support. Learned helplessness is linked to depression, stress and low self-esteem showing that learned helplessness is an indirect influence

Strength for methods to improve adherence

They reduce the likelihood of relapse

Weakness for methods to improve adherence

They don’t help people quit in the first place, they only help once they have actually quit which is hard to make addicted people want to quit as they may be in denial.