Question

Hii! i need help with this question.

You know the different explanatory models! Below you can read a case about Frida. Explain Frida's behavior based on biological explanation model and a cognitive explanation model. Compare these and weigh the pros and cons against each other. Remember to reflect on behavior, heritage / environment and thought processes

Frida is a 40-year-old woman, she has had a difficult childhood. Her mother was an alcoholic and her father was depressed during periods and not very much present in Frida's upbringing. Frida had seven younger siblings whom she took care of and at the age of 14 the mother died and Frida had to take all responsibility for her siblings. At the age of 18, Frida married an elderly man and they settled in a quieter area and the siblings got help with studies and jobs. Today, the sick have their own families, but Frida does not feel happy about it, she feels more alone and unhappy.

Frida's husband was also his alcoholic and sometimes became violent to her. She tried forgiveness to make him stop drinking but without results. The activity could not be saved and Frida took out divorce.

In several ways, Frida has in later life succeeded in various things, she has a successful professional life where she works with marketing within a large group. She also has a great social commitment to improving the conditions in the slums where she previously lived as a child. But privately she is not happy. She has several unsuccessful relationships with various violent men. Frida has lost her confidence in attracting men and looking down on herself. It must be because of her that the man becomes violent.

In the end she meets a fantastic man who is a great support for Frida. He sees her for who she is and appreciates all her sides as strong as weak. When they were married for two years, the man suddenly died in a serious car accident. Frida joins the outside world and has a very tough period ahead of her

Although her father has not been so big a part of her life, he is now important to Frida. Frida feels that she has a responsibility towards her father and now helps him when he is old. Frida feels needed and appreciated by him now that her siblings have moved and received their own families

Answer 1

Frida's evaluation, according to the Biological explanation model

The Biological explanation model believes that all psychological outcomes have their basis in physiological factors. Going by this, Frida has adapted to her life in such a way that her life has revolved around her siblings ever since her mother and father were relatively out of the picture. She may be depressed because she is genetically predisposed to be depressed, because of her father. The theory explains Frida's behavior as something that is bound to happen over which she has little to no control. It is reductionist in this aspect. Her failed relationships are explained and owed to having seen her own parents' failed relationship. She feels that she is drawn to men who are not good for her when she continuously gets into bad relationships. And when she loses her one good relationship, she somehow feels that taking care of her father could compensate for her unhappy state.

Frida's evaluation, according to the Cognitive explanation model

The Cognitive explanation model focuses on how the brain works, how information is processed, what kind of thoughts go in and what kind of outcome is received. It is more about stimulus and response and subsequent learning. Going by this, Frida has learned to adapt herself to take care of her siblings and is used to it. When she loses her one important relationship, she feels the need to take care of her ailing father, because she has been conditioned to that behavior. She is depressed about her state and her perception of men has changed because she continues to attract men who are not good for her. Her moral development has happened way longer and not at the appropriate stages. She had to care for her siblings owing to a dysfunctional family setup where the mother was an alcoholic and father had bouts of depression. But, she was able to find her one good relationship which did not last. This does mean that she was capable of finding better relationships.

Comparison of the two models

The Biological explanation model is good in explaining the probability of Frida's susceptibility to being depressed, owing to her father's bouts of depression. But, it reduces Frida to just a body and does not take into account the thoughts and feelings that she may possess and act on. The Cognitive explanation model, on the other hand, explains how she has adapted to her life and has been conditioned to expect certain behavior, but it cannot justify how she was able to get into a good relationship and sustain happiness even though she had been conditioned to get into bad relationships.