Practise explaining biological, psychological and social accounts of mood disorders with CAIE Psychology AS questions and mark schemes.
Explain one strength of applying the determinism side of the determinism versus free-will debate to the biochemical explanation for depressive disorder (unipolar).
Award 2 marks for a detailed explanation of strength in context. Award 1 mark for a basic outline of strength.
Strengths might include:
- Explanatory power- deterministic explanations align with viewing psychology as a science which explains the causes of behaviour.
- Increases the status of psychology - deterministic explanations establish psychology as a science that offers unbiased and objective explanations for behaviour.
- Application to everyday life - if the cause of behaviour (e.g. low levels of serotonin in the case of depression) then a solution can be found (e.g. SSRIs).
- Establishes cause and effect relationships.
- Enables causes to be tested in a laboratory experiment with good control.
- Takes the blame for behaviour away from the person. The patient with depressive disorder will not feel blamed for their depression as the cause of it is due to internal biochemical factors.
Example:
One strength is application to everyday life, as a deterministic explanation identifies the cause of behaviour (e.g. low levels of serotonin for depressive disorder) which can then be treated. (1) For example, depressive disorder can be treated using SSRIs which increase serotonin levels through blocking re-uptake of serotonin into neurons. (1)
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
2
Context = biological explanation of depressive disorder (unipolar)
No credit for explanation of why biochemical explanation is deterministic.
No credit for just identifying the strength.
3
Olivia has a bipolar disorder and is receiving cognitive restructuring as therapy. In her first session she said:
'My life used to be 100% perfect! I had an amazing job and friends. I stayed up one night to research an expensive holiday.
Recently everything has changed. I am not working and have no energy. No one likes me, not even my family, as I am not fun to be with. I have cancelled the holiday. Why does this keep happening to me? I feel amazing for a while and then it all
changes and I am depressed again.'