Work for Mr Lawrence - Wednesday 9th November

I'm not in school today I'm afraid. You need to do the following by Friday's lesson:

Spend no more than 25 minutes writing an answer to this exam question, without looking at your textbook or any notes:

"Describe and evaluate the biological model of abnormality." 6 marks AO1 (for knowledge and understanding of the model) + 6 marks AO2 (for your analysis and evaluation).

Then, review your notes on Freud's psychodynamic theory of personality, and read the section in your textbook on the psychodynamic model of abnormality. Make notes answering the following questions:

1. How can the 'tripartite personality' (id, ego and superego) be used to explain abnormality?
2. Use examples to explain how defence mechanisms can lead to abnormal behaviour.
3. How did Freud use the ideas of 'fixation' and 'regression' to explain abnormal behaviour.

The criticism of Freud's theory we looked at in September is relevant here. Make sure your notes are clear on the following:

• The problem of Freud's evidence being subjective.
• Why it's difficult to test his theory, making it unfalsifiable (a bad thing, as it's therefore not trustworthy).
• The problem with his sample (cultural and historical).
• A strength in terms of the therapy based on his ideas (psychoanalysis) being about as good as any other therapy.
• A strength in terms of being less reductionist than other models e.g. biological.
• A strength in terms of recognising the importance of childhood, but a limitation in terms of ignoring the present.