Essay structure – Psychology

Introduction: Address content of question. Who proposed the theory? Make concise definitions. Explain what form your essay is going to take – break down the ‘command term’.

Depression is a mood disorder that is characterized by a change in mood a feeling of hopelessness. Indeed, there are several factors of depression. This essay will offer a balanced review on social-cultural and biological factors of depression of major depression.

Main content: Have a list of key vocabulary that you want to include. This will guide your content and show evidence of knowledge. Summarise your studies (A, M, F) and evaluate them – ecological validity? Sample size? Experimental? Heuristic validity? 

After ever paragraph you need to explicitly say why it is relevant to the question (e.g. This study shows support for ? theory) If required, you need to evaluate the theory itself.

Social Cultural factors are focused on the environment and the resources available for an individual within society. This is cold the vulnerability model.

First of all, a key study in the support of the vulnerability model theory  is “Harris and Brown (1978)”, it supports social-cultural factors of depression. The Aim of this study was to sea to what extend social-factors have an impact on depression.

It is considered as classical, the method was the following, 400 women were ask about their statues, their depressive episode, This experiment was based in the south of London.  

The researchers found that their protective factors, found to protect against development of depression in spite of stressors, for example a high levels of intimacy with a wife’s husband. These factors lead to higher levels of self-esteem and the possibility of finding other sources of meaning in life.

In the other hand, there are Vulnerability factors found to increase risk of depression, such as a combination of particularly stressful life events that are also called provoking agents in the study. The most significant vulnerability factors were the followings, Loss of one's mother before the age of 11,  lack of a confiding relationship or even the fact of having more than three children under the age of 14 at home and  unemployment.

 This is the reason why social support is very important in the protection from depression, indeed, living in a community where life is enjoyable; the climate is good and healthy. If social Support is very present, then people a less likely to get depression. Certainly, Living in a luxurious condominium is Singapore is more likely than live in a lost house in the middle of Poland where the percentage of man alcoholism is the highest on the planet and the women is not respected.  The strengths of this study are that its results a reliable, and it also inspired other studies. On the other hand, this study is too simplistic; it is also gender and culture based. The participants may have withheld information because it was too personal. This study clearly shows support to the theory of social-cultural factors of major depression.

As seen in the study above Vulnerability models is theory very useful and helpful way the prevent depression. Nevertheless, the limitations are the following; It is very ddifficult to argue social stressors are the cause of depression. Due that the stressors appear to lead to the disorder only with the interaction of biological factors. It id also difficult, but not impossible, to carry out research that examines all three biological, socio-cultural factors and cognitive factors. Moreover it is   difficult to measure stress. Nevertheless this theory is key on the cure or prevention of major depression.

Finally, major depression may be the consequence of life events such as a divorce or unemployment, however there are times that there is no obvious cause. Depression may be cause due to biological factors. Biological factors are based on three theories; depression may be the consequence of internal changes
in the neurotransmitter system. The second theory argues that depression is due to a high level of depression. The theory, proposed by Panksepp in 1994, agrees that depression is the result of interaction between the basic neurotransmitters related to emotions and a triggering event as well as the way this is interpreted by the individual.

A key hypothesis to supports biological factors is Coppen (1967). Indeed coppen argued that a low levels of Serotonin (5-HT) is linked to Major Depression. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in specific neurons in the brain; it can also be called ‘serotonergic neurons’. Moreover, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI’s) blocks the reuptake process for serotonin. This results in an increased amount in the synaptic gap. In 1967, Coppen defended that deficit of the role of serotonin or 5-HT as a primary cause for depression, this problem can be reversed by SSRI’s. Unfortunately, although SSRI’s do help depression, the molecule that looked to be the magic cure for major depression has been questioned by Psychologists and Doctors for its effectiveness. Nevertheless serotonin seems to have an effect on several patients, and this hypothesis is supported by many case studies.  

 Critical point: You have presented most of your evidence and now must say what you think. Sum up and give your point of view.

Studying both biological and social-cultural factors is very important to support researches and develop treatment.

Conclusion: Why is this question important to everyday life? Step back and see the bigger picture. What are the implications of the research? Perhaps ask a question, showing evidence of your wider reading?

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Defined the key concepts in the essay question?

yes

Addressed the command term?

Used key vocabulary?

Made explicit statements after every paragraph, as to why the paragraph is relevant to the question?

Been critical of (evaluated) the studies and the theory?

Expressed your point of view?

Concluded and addressed the wider implications?