Discuss the biological approach to psychopathology

The biological model assumes that all mental disorders are caused by physical factors – like illnesses. Such illnesses may be caused by one of four possible factors: genes, biochemistry, neuroanatomy and viral infection - biochemistry referring to hormones and neuroanatomy referring to brain structure.

According to this approach, mental illness can be the result of genetic inheritance, and so are passed on from parent to child. Many of the genes responsible for abnormal behaviours are the product of evolutionary adaptations in our ancestors, despite the fact that these traits are no longer useful. For example, psychologists believe ‘stress genes’ evolved in order to help our ancestors in times of danger and provide them with the ‘fight or flight’ response which is no longer as useful in our technological world.

According to this approach genes can also be responsible for mental illnesses. Genes tell the body how to function – they determine, for example, the level of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain, referred to as biochemistry. This means that certain genes may lead to abnormal biochemistry and/or abnormal neuroanatomy. For example, genes may dictate the low levels of serotonin that have been found in depressed individuals. Genes also determine the structure of the brain, known as the neuroanatomy. For example, research has shown that schizophrenics have enlarged ventricles in their brains, indicating the shrinkage of the brain tissue around ...

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Also, this approach means that viral infections can also be the cause of mental illness. Research suggests that some disorders, such as schizophrenia, may be related to the exposure of certain viruses in the womb. For example, Torrey (2001) found that the mothers of many people with schizophrenia had contracted a strain of influenza during pregnancy. The virus may enter the unborn child’s brain, where it remains dormant until puberty, where other hormones can activate it, producing symptoms of schizophrenia.

Whilst the biological model has been supported by evidence, there are issues of cause and effect. For example, many studies have shown clear structural differences in the brain between normal and schizophrenic patients. However, it is not clear whether abnormal biochemistry or abnormal neuroanatomy is the cause of abnormal behaviour or an effect of abnormal behaviour. For example, is depression caused by low levels of the serotonin neurotransmitter (hormone), or does the depressive mood actually cause the low levels of serotonin?

Another problem with the biological model is that it removes personal responsibility for behaviour. For example, there have recently been cases where courts have acquitted individuals who have sexually abused their family, on the basis that abnormalities in brain structure caused by cancerous tumours have altered personality. As such, the implication of the biological approach is that the person is no way responsible for their abnormal behaviour and is therefore not to blame. On the other hand, this might be considered a more sympathetic way to treat people suffering from mental disorders.

A strength of the model is that some drug treatments have been successful. For example, drugs that alter the levels of serotonin neurotransmitter are often effective in treating depression indicating that levels of chemicals in the brain could be the cause of some mental disorders. However, it could be counter argued that when patients stop taking these drugs, they often relapse and start suffering again. This may indicate that there is more to the cause of mental disorders than neurotransmitter levels.

A further weakness of the model is that evidence for genetic inheritance is always inconclusive. Concordance rates found in twin studies are never 100% despite the fact that identical twins share 100% of their genes. Instead, it is likely that individuals inherit susceptibility for a mental disorder but only go on to develop it if the individual is also exposed to stressful life conditions. This is called the diathesis-stress model.

Peer Reviews

Here's what a star student thought of this essay

sydneyhopcroft

2nd of Jul 2012

Quality of writing

The Quality of Written Communication (QWC) here is very good. All difficult terminology is spelt and applied correctly, all grammar is accurate and there are no punctuation issues to be found. This is an good example of a candidate who has clearly taken time to ensure the clarity of their written expression by re-reading and spell-checking everything they wrote, in order to make the transmission of the information - quite complex information, for anyone to have to read - far more accessible due to the clear and accurate QWC.

Level of analysis

The Level of Analysis here is very good. The candidate realises a number of difficulties as well as success which biological ideas about psychopathy, citing empirical evidence that helps support and refute certain theories and treatment, all the while applying specialist terminology like "certain genes may lead to abnormal biochemistry and/or abnormal neuroanatomy" and does well to recognise a number of contributory factors to biological psychopathy, such as evolutionary factors. Where the candidate could improve is to, perhaps, mention how biological intervention can induce psychopathy, e.g. neuro-surgery that fails to cure but instead makes a problem worse, or perhaps an accident of the ilk of Phineas Gage, where a man who was always considered very normal became a psychopath after a large pole was blown through his left cheek, through his right frontal lobe and out of the top of his head after accidentally placing the pole on a landmine. How did this intervention change Gage's biology and ultimately induce psychopathy? Not mentioning this does not greatly hinder the answer, but it would aid the candidate by giving them a different biological cause of psychopathy to discuss, helping to vary their answer a bit more.

Response to question

This candidate demonstrates an excellent knowledge of the biological approach and, unlike so many other essays, does not fall foul to forgetting to tie the theory to the question. This candidate has very succinctly describe the beliefs of the biological approach in conjunction with the treatment of certain psychopathic disorders. There is a good use of the appropriate terminology required and the argument is balanced. The introductory paragraph is very well-written and nicely helms the direction of the essay by introducing the psychopathic disorder classifications and how biology affects behaviour, allowing the rest of the essay to flow naturally into a very well-augmented essay.

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