Dysfunctional behavior

The biological model is based on the assumptions that if the brain and biochemicals mediate psychological processes, so any abnormal or dysfunctional behaviors are determined physically and biologically. Thus, biological model assumes genetic, organic or chemical disorders cause mental illness which gives rise to psychological symptoms.

The behavioral model is based upon the behaviorist or learning theory approach. It believes that external or environmental factors are mainly responsible for psychological illness, so dysfunctional behavior just simply occurs when maladaptive responses have been learnt or adaptive responses have not been learnt. Therefore, only observable behavior disorder needs to be fixed.

Both models of dysfunctional behavior use laboratory experiment to investigate the causes of dysfunctional behavior. They are able to study on and record any behavior that can be seen or hear, therefore, it provides strong scientific evidences to support the assumptions that the models based on. Using laboratory experiment also allows the researcher to control the variables, such as cultural background and gender, to ensure the results can be accurately applied because abnormal and dysfunctional behaviors are defined differently in society according to various culture and country.

On the other hand, both models ignore any mind processes and they do not acknowledge free will. They assumes that all dysfunctional behavior is determined physically, however, they cannot explain the reason why people experience conscious will over behavior and people are able react to events instantly when behavior could not be computed ahead of time.