PowerPoint Presentations by Eamon Fulcher & Nick Redshaw 1 The Approaches to understanding Human Behaviour The Biological/Medical Approach Note: An Approach may also be referred to as a Model in the exam

PowerPoint Presentations by Eamon Fulcher & Nick Redshaw 2 The Biological/Medical Model Assumptions all mental disorders have a physical cause (micro- organisms, genetics, biochemistry, or neuroanatomy) mental illnesses can be described in terms of clusters of symptoms symptoms can be identified, leading to the diagnosis of an illness diagnosis leads to appropriate physical treatments

PowerPoint Presentations by Eamon Fulcher & Nick Redshaw 3 Cause how the biological model explains abnormal/or normal behaviour –Infection micro-organisms that cause disease –Genetic factors inherited predispositions to certain illnesses –Biochemistry excessive amounts of certain biochemicals in the brain –Neuroanatomy brain damage Treatment drugs counselling electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) psychosurgery

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