A* Comp 1
1. Describe the findings of Myers and Diener’s (1995) research ‘Who is happy?’ [8]
The findings were split into two categories: Myths of happiness and happy people
Myths of happiness
Age and happiness: No significant difference. Inglehart’s survey of 170,000 participants
in 16 countries showed no time of life is happier or unhappier than another. However,
the predicting factors of happiness change. For example, social life and health become
more predictory factors as people age.
Gender and happiness: Conflicting but no significant difference. Inglehart found 80% of
men and women rate themselves as ‘fairly happy/satisfied with life’. However, Robin
found women are two times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than men and
men are five times more likely to develop alcoholism and anti-social personality disorder
than women, both of which are factors that negatively affect happiness and subjective
well-being (SWB).
Race and happiness: No significant difference. Crocker found different nationalities
respond similarly on a survey of self-esteem.
Ethnicity and happiness: Significant difference found. Inglehart found only 10% of people
in Portugal rate themselves as ‘very happy’ compared to 40% in the Netherlands.
Collectivist cultures found as more happy than individualistic cultures, which is true even
when income is controlled for.
Income and happiness: Moderate positive correlation. Diener et al found a +.12
correlation between income and happiness. However, research showed 75% of
Americans report ‘financial stability’ as a life goal, ranked more important than raising a
family.
Happy People
Traits: the best indicator of happiness are traits including self-esteem, self-control,
optimism and extraversion.
Relationships: Those married are more likely to rate themselves as ‘very happy’ than
not. Having more friends is linked to happier people. People who can name 7 or more
friends are healthier (less likely to die prematurely) and happier than those that can
name few or none.
Work: Work satisfaction is linked to life satisfaction. Happy people work, it provides a
sense of community and self-confidence. Finally, faith. Religious people are 2 times more
likely to rate themselves as happy than those not religious. 8/8
2. Evaluate the biological approach in terms of its strengths and weaknesses [10]
One strength of the biological approach is that it has practical applications. For instance,
the therapy of ‘psychosurgery’ uses principles of the biological approach such as
, localisation of function. The therapy is based on the medical model of mental illness –
suggesting that if a mental health disorder has a physical cause, that it should be
treated in a physical way. Research to support it’s effectiveness has been put forward by
Cosgrave and Rauch. Who found the bilateral cingulotomy to be effective for 56% of
patients with OCD. This is a strength of the biological approach as it has led to a
successful therapy which is effective. Therefore, this makes the biological approach
useful to understanding mental health disorders and treating them.
Another strength of the biological approach is that it is scientific – or uses scientific
methods. For example, Raine et al made use of a PET scan within their quasi experiment
to investigate the differences in brain structure of murderers and non-murderers to
explain criminal behaviour. In their experiment, variables were clearly defined,
operationalised and controlled. The IV was whether the P’s were NGRI or not. The DV was
glucose metabolism/brain activity. This is a strength of the approach as again its
principles have been used to understand criminal behaviour of murderers. Based on this,
the biological approach is highly useful in understanding behaviour, due to its use of
objective measures such as brain scans.
Though a weakness of the biological approach is that it falls on the nature side of the
nature/nurture debate. This is because the approach considers the influence of innate,
biological factors on behaviour. This is demonstrated through the ‘neurotransmitters’
assumption, which are evidently innate as they are chemicals released in the nervous
system, released by neurons at the synapse. The biological approach suggest that
mental health disorders like schizophrenia are caused by excess levels of the
neurotransmitter dopamine. This leads to positive symptoms of SZ due to
overstimulation of the receptors, which are internal. This is a weakness of the biological
approach, because it fails to consider the influence of nurture on human behaviour such
as SZ. Therefore, this could make the biological approach incomplete, which hinders its
usefulness in explaining human behaviour.
In conclusion, it seems the biological approach is useful but open to criticism. This is due
to its useful application to society as well as its effectiveness and scientific nature.
Though, it can be criticised for its lack of consideration of environmental (nurture)
influences on behaviour. Perhaps the approach may become more useful if considered
alongside another approach, like the behaviourist approach in order to put forward a
biopsychosocial understanding of behaviour. 9/10
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of either systematic desensitisation OR aversion
therapy [8]
Systematic desensitisation (SD) is effective for treating phobias with an in vitro approach
(strength). Rothbaum et al researched people with a phobia of flying with a control
group. The experimental group underwent SD via virtual reality and therefore in vitro
approach. After, 93% of the experimental group agreed to a test flight and had
significantly lower stress levels compared to the control group. This was found
1. Describe the findings of Myers and Diener’s (1995) research ‘Who is happy?’ [8]
The findings were split into two categories: Myths of happiness and happy people
Myths of happiness
Age and happiness: No significant difference. Inglehart’s survey of 170,000 participants
in 16 countries showed no time of life is happier or unhappier than another. However,
the predicting factors of happiness change. For example, social life and health become
more predictory factors as people age.
Gender and happiness: Conflicting but no significant difference. Inglehart found 80% of
men and women rate themselves as ‘fairly happy/satisfied with life’. However, Robin
found women are two times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than men and
men are five times more likely to develop alcoholism and anti-social personality disorder
than women, both of which are factors that negatively affect happiness and subjective
well-being (SWB).
Race and happiness: No significant difference. Crocker found different nationalities
respond similarly on a survey of self-esteem.
Ethnicity and happiness: Significant difference found. Inglehart found only 10% of people
in Portugal rate themselves as ‘very happy’ compared to 40% in the Netherlands.
Collectivist cultures found as more happy than individualistic cultures, which is true even
when income is controlled for.
Income and happiness: Moderate positive correlation. Diener et al found a +.12
correlation between income and happiness. However, research showed 75% of
Americans report ‘financial stability’ as a life goal, ranked more important than raising a
family.
Happy People
Traits: the best indicator of happiness are traits including self-esteem, self-control,
optimism and extraversion.
Relationships: Those married are more likely to rate themselves as ‘very happy’ than
not. Having more friends is linked to happier people. People who can name 7 or more
friends are healthier (less likely to die prematurely) and happier than those that can
name few or none.
Work: Work satisfaction is linked to life satisfaction. Happy people work, it provides a
sense of community and self-confidence. Finally, faith. Religious people are 2 times more
likely to rate themselves as happy than those not religious. 8/8
2. Evaluate the biological approach in terms of its strengths and weaknesses [10]
One strength of the biological approach is that it has practical applications. For instance,
the therapy of ‘psychosurgery’ uses principles of the biological approach such as
, localisation of function. The therapy is based on the medical model of mental illness –
suggesting that if a mental health disorder has a physical cause, that it should be
treated in a physical way. Research to support it’s effectiveness has been put forward by
Cosgrave and Rauch. Who found the bilateral cingulotomy to be effective for 56% of
patients with OCD. This is a strength of the biological approach as it has led to a
successful therapy which is effective. Therefore, this makes the biological approach
useful to understanding mental health disorders and treating them.
Another strength of the biological approach is that it is scientific – or uses scientific
methods. For example, Raine et al made use of a PET scan within their quasi experiment
to investigate the differences in brain structure of murderers and non-murderers to
explain criminal behaviour. In their experiment, variables were clearly defined,
operationalised and controlled. The IV was whether the P’s were NGRI or not. The DV was
glucose metabolism/brain activity. This is a strength of the approach as again its
principles have been used to understand criminal behaviour of murderers. Based on this,
the biological approach is highly useful in understanding behaviour, due to its use of
objective measures such as brain scans.
Though a weakness of the biological approach is that it falls on the nature side of the
nature/nurture debate. This is because the approach considers the influence of innate,
biological factors on behaviour. This is demonstrated through the ‘neurotransmitters’
assumption, which are evidently innate as they are chemicals released in the nervous
system, released by neurons at the synapse. The biological approach suggest that
mental health disorders like schizophrenia are caused by excess levels of the
neurotransmitter dopamine. This leads to positive symptoms of SZ due to
overstimulation of the receptors, which are internal. This is a weakness of the biological
approach, because it fails to consider the influence of nurture on human behaviour such
as SZ. Therefore, this could make the biological approach incomplete, which hinders its
usefulness in explaining human behaviour.
In conclusion, it seems the biological approach is useful but open to criticism. This is due
to its useful application to society as well as its effectiveness and scientific nature.
Though, it can be criticised for its lack of consideration of environmental (nurture)
influences on behaviour. Perhaps the approach may become more useful if considered
alongside another approach, like the behaviourist approach in order to put forward a
biopsychosocial understanding of behaviour. 9/10
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of either systematic desensitisation OR aversion
therapy [8]
Systematic desensitisation (SD) is effective for treating phobias with an in vitro approach
(strength). Rothbaum et al researched people with a phobia of flying with a control
group. The experimental group underwent SD via virtual reality and therefore in vitro
approach. After, 93% of the experimental group agreed to a test flight and had
significantly lower stress levels compared to the control group. This was found
