Biological explanations of dysfunctional behaviour centres around physiology, and refers to aspects of biology such as genetics and brain functioning.
The biological explanation of depression specifically refers to two factors: neurotransmitter dysfunction and inherited genes. In terms of neurotransmitter dysfunction, the biological approach would explain that depression is significantly associated with low levels of serotonin, which has been also been associated with many forms of dysfunctional behaviour including excess anger, anxiety, poor social functioning and other mood disorders. Serotonin is believed to have a variety of roles, and affects brain functioning; though it is not known whether depression is caused by serotonin levels, or whether depression causes low serotonin, or if there is another factor causing them both.
In terms of genes, family research - especially twin and adoption studies - has shown there to be a genetic link to depression, and that this suggests some people may carry genes that predispose them to depression and other mood disorders. Thus, depression could be explained in terms of genetic predispositions.
One study which conducted family correlational research into depression was Wender et al. It was an adoption study which looked at whether environment or genetics appeared to be more associated with depression in adopted adults. The study used a sample of 71 adults who had been adopted and who had a mood disorder, and 71 controls with the same mean age who'd also been adopted but did not have a mood disorder. All had been removed from their mothers at a young age. Psychiatric evaluations were conducted of both the biological and adoptive parents to see whether there was a stronger correlation between depression in adopted adults and depression in adopted parents or biological parents. The results showed that there was an eight fold increase in unipolar depression among the biological parents of the adults. In other words, adoptive parents were eight times less likely to have depression, and the biological parents having depression correlated more significantly with depression in the adopted children than the adopted parents having depression.
Thus mood disorders appear to have a genetic link, and biological psychologists would thus attribute depression to genetics.
Showing posts with label affective disorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label affective disorder. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Behaviourist explanation of depression
One explanation of depression is that given by the behaviourist perspective, which assumes that all behaviour, including depression, is learnt. Typically of the behavioural approach, it refers to the two main processes: operant conditioning (learning via punishment and reinforcement) and classical conditioning (learning via association).
Seligman's infamous "learned helplessness" study which showed how dogs can be conditioned not to try to remove themselves from a negative situation demonstrated how operant conditioning could potentially lead to depression.
One study which illustrates the behaviourist explanation of depression in humans is Lewinson et al (1990). The study aimed to compare the amount of positive reinforcements received by depressed and non-depressed patients. The sample consisted of 30 participants; a selection of these had depression, some had other disorders, and some were not diagnosed with any disorder.
It was thus an independent measures design quasi-experiment. Both the IV (the number of positive reinforcements) and the DV (depression rating) were given via self-report, through a "pleasant events schedule" and a "depression adjective checklist" where participants had to tick the adjectives they felt applied to their mood.
The results found that there was a significant positive correlation between mood ratings and pleasant activities, however there were individual differences. Thus, it was concluded that positive reinforcement is likely to be one of several factors involved in depression.
Therefore, the behaviourist explanation of depression is that depression is the result of conditioning and learning, and processes such as positive reinforcement are important influencing factors in the extent to which someone feels depressed.
Seligman's infamous "learned helplessness" study which showed how dogs can be conditioned not to try to remove themselves from a negative situation demonstrated how operant conditioning could potentially lead to depression.
One study which illustrates the behaviourist explanation of depression in humans is Lewinson et al (1990). The study aimed to compare the amount of positive reinforcements received by depressed and non-depressed patients. The sample consisted of 30 participants; a selection of these had depression, some had other disorders, and some were not diagnosed with any disorder.
It was thus an independent measures design quasi-experiment. Both the IV (the number of positive reinforcements) and the DV (depression rating) were given via self-report, through a "pleasant events schedule" and a "depression adjective checklist" where participants had to tick the adjectives they felt applied to their mood.
The results found that there was a significant positive correlation between mood ratings and pleasant activities, however there were individual differences. Thus, it was concluded that positive reinforcement is likely to be one of several factors involved in depression.
Therefore, the behaviourist explanation of depression is that depression is the result of conditioning and learning, and processes such as positive reinforcement are important influencing factors in the extent to which someone feels depressed.
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