Download Dysfunctional Behaviour

DYSFUNCTIONAL
BEHAVIOUR
a.
b.
c.
G543
Diagnosis, Definition, Bias
Explanations
Treatments
HEALTH & CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
2. Explanations of Dysfunctional Behaviour
a.
b.
c.
Biological: Gottesman
Behavioural: Watson & Rayner
Cognitive: Beck
EXAM STYLE QUESTIONS (ESQ)
Explanations
BIOLOGICAL
January 2011
a. Outline a biological explanation of dysfunctional behaviour [10]
b. To what extent are explanations of dysfunctional behaviour reductionist? [15]
BEHAVIOURAL
a. Outline a behavioural explanation of dysfunctional behaviour [10]
b. Discuss strengths and limitations of different explanations of dysfunctional behaviour [15]
COGNTIVE
June 2011
How might cognitive psychologists explain dysfunctional behaviour? [10]
Assess the appropriateness of different explanations of dysfunctional behaviour [15]
January 2013
Outline a cognitive explanation of dysfunctional behaviour [10]
Compare explanations of dysfunctional behaviour [15]
Activity 1
Starter:


Based on your knowledge and common sense:
Mind map/list what you expect the Biological Explanation of
Dysfunctional Behaviour is/includes?
Biological Explanation of Dysfunctional
Behaviour
Activity 2: Checking and discussing definitions:
How could we research the influence of biology on
behaviour?
Genes
Hormones
Brain structure
2a. Summary Questions/Homework Check:
BIOLOGICAL
GOTTESMAN, 1976
Aims
Method & Procedures
What was the aim of this study?
What research method was used in
this study?
What happened?
Background
What issue did Gottesman want to
resolve?
Sample
What are the details of the
sample?
Results
What did all 3 adoption studies
show?
What were the concordance rates for
biological siblings?
What were the concordance rates for
monozygotic twins?
What were the concordance rates for
dizygotic twins?
2a. Summary of study: BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Gottesman, 1976
Aim
Background
Sample
To review research on family, twin and adoption
studies to test from evidence of a genetic cause.
A dispute had arisen between those who believed that
schizophrenia was caused by environmental factors
such as schizophrenia and abnormal parenting and
those who believed there was a genetic cause. Twin
and adoption studies begun in late 1960’s attempted
to resolve the issue.
In total there were 711 participants in the adoption
studies and 210 monozygotic twins and 317 dyzygotic
twin sets studied.
2a. Summary Information: BIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Gottesman, 1976
Method
Procedure
Results &
Conclusion
A review article of three adoption and five twin
studies between 1967 and 1976
Concordance rates (how often both twins were diagnosed
with schizophrenia) and incidence of schizophrenia in
parents and children in biological and adoptive families
were calculated in the study.
All three adoption studies showed increased incidences of
schizophrenia in adopted children with a schizophrenic
parent, but normal children fostered with a schizophrenic
parent did not develop schizophrenia. In one study, the
biological siblings of children with schizophrenia were found
to have a 19.2% chance of also developing the condition.
The twin studies also supported the biological explanation,
with monozygotic twins showing a 58% concordance rate
compared to 12% in dizygotic twins.
Research
Kendler (1985) has shown that first-degree relatives of
those with schizophrenia are 18 times more at risk than the
general population.
Tienari (1969): studied adopted away offspring of
biological mothers who had been diagnosed with
schizophrenia + matched control group of adopted
offspring of mothers who had not been diagnosed with any
mental disorder. Adoptees ranged from 5-7 yrs at the
start of the study and all had begun separation from their
mother before. 4. 7% of the adopted away adoptees
developed schizophrenia, compared to 1.5% of the
controls.
One of the studies by Kety (1975) found that biological
siblings of children with schizophrenia showed a much
higher percentage of schizophrenia (19.2 per cent)
compared with adoptive siblings (6.3 per cent).
Sherrington et al. (1988) has found a gene located on
chromosome 5 which has been linked in a small number of
extended families where they have the disorder
Gottesman and Shields’ own study (1972)
this was 58 per cent in monozygotic twins, meaning
that if one twin had schizophrenia then there was a
58 per cent chance the other would have it, compared
with a 12 per cent concordance rate for dizygotic twins.
Any issues?
3a. Evaluation Questions: BIOLOGICAL
 Identify strengths and weakness of the biological
explanation for Dysfunctional Behaviour
 To what extent does genetics play a role in the
cause of Dysfunctional Behaviour?
 Has a single gene been identified as a contributor
to Dysfunctional Behaviour? Why is this an issue?
 Is there any other support for this approach?
 Is there an alternative way to explain
dysfunctional behaviour?
3a. Debate Questions: BIOLOGICAL
Does this research (Gottesman) offer support
for the role of nature or nurture?
If a genetic element can be identified, does
this suggest we can find a cure?
Is this approach useful?
Activity 3: Evaluation of Gottesman:

Strengths and weaknesses
3a. Evaluation & Debates: BIOLOGICAL
Both genes and environment are each necessary but
not sufficient for developing schizophrenia.
There were disagreements on the diagnosis of
schizophrenia across the studies.
No single gene for schizophrenia has been identified.
 Nature-Nurture is a clear debate here with the use of twin
studies which offer the possibility to test genes against environment.
Reliability of diagnosis could be an issue here.
Usefulness – the research suggests potential genetic cures but a
need to isolate many genes first and also investigate environmental
causes, it yet unspecified, although cannabis is one suspect at the
moment.

What would we include in this 10 mark Q?
6-8 marks
• Psychological terminology is competent and mainly accurate. Description of evidence is mainly
accurate and relevant, coherent and reasonably detailed.
• Elaboration/use of example/quality of description is good.
• There is some evidence of interpretation and explanation in the context of the question.
• The answer has good structure and organisation.
• The answer is mostly grammatically correct with few spelling errors.
9-10 marks
• Correct and comprehensive use of psychological terminology.
• Description of evidence is accurate, relevant, coherent and detailed.
• Elaboration/use of example/quality of description is very good and the ability to
interpret/explain the evidence selected in the context of the question is very good.
• The answer is competently structured and organised.
• Answer is mostly grammatically correct with occasional spelling errors.
Homework



Answer the 10 mark Q
Use the guidance to help you and email or see me
if you need clarification.
Due: