Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the biomedical explanation
of OCD. You should include a conclusion in your answer.
Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
Strengths:
• Genetics/chemicals can be studied objectively = scientific data.
• Studies can be done experimentally, with cause and effect, and can be
replicated.
• Studies of biology are more likely to be generalised because all people
have the same biological functions
Weaknesses:
• Biomedical explanations are reductionist, reducing what could be a
complex cognitive phenomenon to nothing more than ‘chemicals’.
• Biological explanations cannot be generalised because although people
have the same biological functioning, there are individual differences in
the amount of a particular chemical, such as too much or too little of a
chemical causing an imbalance.
• Biomedical explanations are reductionist because they don’t consider
the interaction between chemicals etc. and a person’s interactions with
other people, their learning, etc.
Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has
been presented. 1 mark if appropriate.
Marks: Question requires discussion. Question always plural of each
argument. Question always requires conclusion.
• 1 mark for each strength/weakness (however detailed) and related to
the question up to 4 max.
• 1 mark for two strengths unrelated to the question. 1 mark for two
weaknesses unrelated to the question.
• 1 mark for conclusion.
Note: If three (or more) arguments for one side, best two credited. If
strength or weakness only, max 2 marks.