Weakness

• Nature v Nuture


  • Biology/nature based
  • Ignores environment and nuture
  • Eg: depression and low serotonin but may be due to environment as well
  • Fallon and warrior gene
• Nomothetic


  • Generalises findings
  • Ignore individual differences
  • Usually test on men and just apply to women

  Eg: Taylor men react to stress with ‘fight or flight’ women react with ‘tend or befriend’
• Reductionist


  • Biologically reductionist
  • Reduces complexities just to biology
  • Eg: Schizophrenia just to dopamine
  • Depression due to just serotonin
  • Simplification causes less knowledge
  • R.D laing - ignores distress