Approaches

The cognitive approach

Strength - uses objective, scientific methods, labs, reliable results

Limitation - machine reductionism, ignores influence of human emotion

Strength - real-world application, advancements in AI and depression treatment

Strength - founded on soft determinism, individuals can exert free will

The behaviourist approach

Strength - based on well-controlled research, lab, reliable results

Limitation - environmental determinism, ignores influence of free will

Strength - real-world application, used in institutions

Limitation - ethical issues, animal studies

The psychodynamic approach

Strength - real-world application, Freud psychoanalysis to treat mental disorders

Limitation - untestable concepts

Strength - approach draws connection between childhood experiences & development

Limitation - psychic determinism

Humanistic approach

Strength - not reductionist, increases validity

Limitation - Western cultural bias, individualist cultures

Strength - optimistic approach, advocates for personal growth

Limitation - limited application to real-world

Biological approach

Strength - real-world application, antidepressants

Limitation - biological determinism

Strength - uses scientific methods, reliable data

Limitation - uses Darwin’s theory of natural selection as suppport

Social learning theory

Strength - recognises importance of cognitive factors

Limitation - evidence from lab studies

Strength - real-world application

Limitation - reciprocal determinism, Bandura individuals exert influence

The cognitive approach to treating depression

Strength - supporting evidence

Limitation - high relapse rates, 42% within 6 months

Strength - focuses on identifying healthy habits & changing

Limitation - lack of effectiveness for severe cases

Explanations for depression

Beck’s negative triad:

Strength - research support

Strength - real-world application, used in CBT

Ellis’ ABC model:

Strength - real-world application

Limitation: model only explains reactive depression, can only explain some depression cases

Behavioural approach to explaining phobias

Strength - real-world application, used in exposure therapies

Limitation - doesn’t account for cognitive aspects

Strength - evidence for link between bad experiences & phobias, Little Albert (2010)

Limitation - evolution

Behavioural approach to treating phobias

Systematic desensitisation:

Strength - evidence of its effectiveness

Limitation - psychologists argue VR more cost effective

Flooding:

Strength - flooding cost effective

Limitation - can be traumatic

Biological approach to explaining OCD

Genetic:

Strength - research support, 68% identical twins share OCD

Limitation - environmental risk factors that trigger

Neural:

Strength - research support of antidepressants

Limitation - no unique neural system

Biological approach to treating OCD

Strength - evidence of effectiveness, 70%

Limitation - drug side effects

Strength - drugs cost effective

Limitation - biased evidence, researchers sponsored by drug companies

Deviation from norm mental health

Deviation from ideal mental health:

Strength - criterion highly comprehensive

Limitation - may be culture bound

Failure to function adaquately:

Strength - represents a threshold for help

Limitation - issues of discrimination & social control

Deviation from norm behaviour

Statistical infrequency:

Strength - real-world application, used in clinical practice

Limitation - infrequent characteristics can be positive & negative

Deviation from social norms:

Strength - real-world application, used in clinical practice

Limitation - cultural & situational relativism

Natural & Quasi experiments

Natural:

Strength: study of naturally occuring events, high external validity

Limitation: ppts not randomly allocated to experimental conditions

Quasi:

Strength: controlled conditions, easily replicated

Limitation: ppts not randomly allocated to experimental conditions