Applying Psychology to Health and Social Care

966 Words4 Pages
The biological and behaviourist approach have many similarities and differences in their approach to health and social care. Ultimately, both approaches offer effective solutions for the treatment of behavioural disorders which is important to as it offers help and support for those who need it to treat their challenging behaviour. In addition, both have been fully integrated into health and social care practice and can be carried out by all levels of staff and are both based on dealing with observable behaviour. Neither focus on thought processes, merely the behaviour. However, along with their many similarities, the biological and behaviourist approach also have a few differences. The biological approach is associated with nature, whereas the behaviourist approach is associated with nurture. The biological approach tackles the symptoms and not the actual cause, and the behaviourist approach attempts to find the cause. Furthermore, the behaviourist approach focuses on classical and operant conditioning as opposed to the biological approach which attempts to explain behaviour through the use of physiology, Both approaches attempt to explain behaviour, however behaviourists focus on the individual's response to the environment, while the biologists show how neurotransmitters and hormones affect individual behaviour. Ultimately, the biological approach has various strengths and weaknesses in relation to health and social care. Significantly, this approach is supported by accurate research. Our understanding of genetics and mapping human genes may be used as support together with all of the medical techniques, such as MRI, to show exactly how the brain and its chemicals affect our behaviour. For example, scans show which parts of the brain are active during a particular behaviour, which would help us develop therapy. Also, the biological approach uses animal research
Open Document