what are the advantages and diasdvantages to the physiological approach to psychology?

Answer 1

A physiological approach to psychology is useful in that it gives quantitative fact, extremely valuable for all sorts of applications. It can give insight into psychological abnormalities, problems that may crop up that can't be identified or solved without this approach. Genes can tell you if a person is likely to have a certain psychological problem or not, and thus the problem can potentially be prevented.

A major disadvantage to the physiological approach is that it often fails to consider environmental factors outside of the direct and the physical. Missing emotional factors, absolutely crucial in the study of psychology, can just be looked over in favor of looking for a chemical cause. While chemicals can be useful in diagnosis, they can be be useless for treatment if they are not truly affecting the root of the problem. A patient's state of mind, their emotions, are incredibly important in the effects of a drug. The placebo effect is a prime example of this, where people take a pill that should have no effect whatsoever, but by belief, feel the supposed effects of the drug. The opposite effect can occur as well, where a patient may not believe in the drug, and therefore not feel its effects.

There's a six axis diagram or something like that, showing how psychological problems should be treated. One is other preexisting psychological conditions, another is medical conditions, others deal with environmental factors, etc. (My former psych teacher would be ashamed of me,,,) I think it is a good balance of physiological and environmental analysis. Nature vs. Nurture, so to speak, or Nature working with Nurture.

Answer 2

He may have a point. However, at best its an holistic approach to confounded chemical imbalances, and at worst its a deluded ignorant one. Physicological Psychology, focuses on the links between bio-chemical disbalance and abnormal thinking. All too often those who put their faith in this field and go on to work in a clinical counselling sense - will recommend drug therapy. Which they actually don't understand, with any degree of certainty, how it works. medications can help adjust the bio-chemicals in peoples systems, but as an apt researcher will realise (but often negates) is that the effects can be spread much further than the targeted systems. What people who decide to use medication as a treatment fail to recognise, al too often, Is that their is a reason that these levels are askew. Its a band-aid treatment. And with the expansion of this field, psychologists are able to prescribe medications now. Often people with depression and great deals of stress in their lives are also substance abusers. What they don't need is more addictions and dependances. Of course I would like to know more about this philosopher and his work. But I would imagine his angle comes from a metaphysical, mind over matter apprach. What came first, the Ill thought or the biochemical changes that proliferate the disorder that ensue? And I very firmly believe that most depressive chemical imbalances are Manifested either, through Metabolic changes that occur in response to depressive patterns, or through genetic disposition to systems malfunction, which is also usually triggered by some kind of physiological or psychological event. Please tell me more about this Philosopher.

Answer 3

There are many. I'll name one for each.

Studying the physiological (neurobiological) aspects of psychology helps destigmatize mental illness. When we can find out that depression or anxiety is a similar brain abnormality just like Alzheimer's or a lesion, there will be more widespread compassion for people who are obnoxious, weird, depressed, otherwise mentally ill, or unintelligent.

A big disadvantage is that reducing everything to brain anatomy leaves us prone to overprescribe medications for abnormal psychological disorders, because medication is considered to be the most direct way to alter brain chemistry. This would take emphasis off of the importance of real-life, therapeutic interventions that can help people learn to manage their dysfunction, rather than just take a medication that will cover up symptoms.

Answer 4

I reject the quesiton.

It's needed, but it's not the whole story. Looking at us only in terms of physiology is mis-guided, but pretending our physical brains and hormones are irrelevant is, too.

Perhaps if there were some context, I could say something meaningful.

Psychology is a huge area.