Compare + contrast bio app and cog app (10)

• Para 1: scientific app

  • P: Both biological and cognitive app praised for their use of scientific, objective research methods

  • E: bio app uses tools like PET and MRI scans to examine brain activity and effects of neurotransmitters, such as in Raine et al’s study of violent offenders. Similarly, cog app uses lab experiments + brain imaging to study internal mental processes and supports emerging field of cognitive neuroscience

  • E: methods allow both apps to produce reliable, replicable data and identify causal relationships, enhancing their scientific credibility. However, lab settings lack ecological validity, particularly in cog experiments, where artificial tasks (e.g. word lists) may not reflect real-life thinking

  • L: therefore, both apps contribute to psychology as a science by enabling objective + testable explanations for behaviour, although sacrifice realism in process
• Para 2: views on human behaviour

  • P: approaches differ in how they explain causes of behaviour, with bio app focusing on internal physical processes and cognitive app focusing on mental processes

  • E: bio app is reductionist, attributing behaviour to neurotransmitters and brain structures - for example, dopamine in schizophrenia - while cog app explains behaviour through schemas and information processing, such as in memory and perception research.

  • E: while biological explanations can lead to effective medical treatments (e.g. SSRIs 4 depression), they often ignore social or emotional experiences. In contrast, cog explanations provide insight into distorted thinking patterns and inform talking therapies like CBT. However, cog approach can be overly mechanistic, likening mind to computer and neglecting role of emotions

  • L: thus, bio + cog apps offer contrasting but complementary insights - 1 focusing on brain biology, 1 on mind
• Conclusion

  In conclusion, while both approaches share strengths in scientific methodology and practical applications, differ in their explanations of behaviour - biological being more reductionist and nature-based, cognitive focusing on internal thought processes and models. Together, provide a more holistic understanding of human psychology when insights are integrated.