Brain and Behaviour Psychology Assignment

Hi, I’m a student from New Zealand in need of urgent help on completing my university assignment. Please choose any theme that you may prefer to complete the assignment. The answer needs to have links to at least some New Zealand research.

Write an evidence-based essay (approximately 2,500 words, 1.5 spaced) comparing and contrasting the perspectives of the behavioural and biological paradigms in relation to understanding OR a psychological issue of your choice. Be sure to critique both paradigms in the course of the assignment.  

Choose from:

Depression

Social Anxiety Disorder

Specific Phobia

Pathological gambling

Sex addiction

Gaming/internet addiction

Briefly define the psychological phenomena of interest – including its diagnostic status in the DSM.

Why it’s important (or perhaps why it’s importance is questionable) etc

Describe, using relevant research and theory, the aetiology OR treatment of your chosen phenomena in both biological and behavioural terms.  In some cases there will be direct research/theory, in others you might need to borrow from related areas.

Compare and contrast the two approaches – consider their relative advantages/disadvantages, and the personal and social issues/costs of the phenomena and the approaches to understanding/treating them.  

Consider any ethical issues (e.g., labelling, stigma, privacy, invasiveness of treatment etc) raised by the two approaches.

LO 1 – Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical concepts associated with the behavioural and biological paradigms in psychology.  

Clearly discuss the theoretical concepts from the behavioural and biological paradigms that you invoke

i.e., outline basic learning principles required, or basics of relevant biological perspective etc…

Learning principles will involve operant and/or respondent conditioning

Biological – could be neurotransmitters, evolution, etc – in many cases principles will be linked to drugs used for treatment

Use research findings, and demonstrate your ability to link theory and research.

An opportunity to be a bit novel – search widely

LO 2 – Critically evaluate and compare the biological and behavioural paradigms in psychology.  

Discuss the limitations and strengths of each paradigm with respect to understanding/treating the issue.

Note their similarities and differences, and where they compliment, or are incongruent, with each other.

LO 3 – Examine the implications of theory for understanding personal and social experience.  

Examine how each approach can impact on understanding personal and social experience, including aspects of personal and social responsibility where appropriate.

Challenging…  what impacts does the issue have on the person affected and those around them? 

What does the paradigm do beyond this?

What are the key strengths, weaknesses and challenges associated with each?

LO 4 – Demonstrate awareness of ethical considerations in the research and practise of behavioural and biological psychology.

Consider the ethical considerations and implications associated with adopting each approach in both research and practice.

How good is evidence? Or what evidence is required?

What are the implications of adopting each approach?

LO 5 – Present work to the appropriate academic standard

The standard is high – read articles.

Use correct APA formatting and referencing throughout the essay (in text citations must be used regularly).

Ensure the work is yours – avoid plagiarism! (submit via Turnitin)

Structure the essay carefully, ensure it is well organised.

This isn’t paint by numbers – part of your skill is organising

Use coherent and grammatical sentences and paragraphs to clearly develop your arguments

Ensure your ideas and arguments are developed and flow logically.  Explicitly link theory and research to provide strong and well-developed arguments.

Please no separate sections for each learning outcome (LO).

Concise introduction and conclusion – stress main points at end – don’t dilute by trying to cover everything

Both depth and breadth are acceptable – simply outline why you have taken a narrower focus

This is a research literature review – researchers do not publish their research via websites, blogs, etc etc – they USE ‘peer-reviewed’ ACADEMIC JOURNALS.

Integrate and critically discuss the ‘research’ and form your own conclusions.