What is the focus of the medical model in psychology?

The medical model in psychology emphasizes understanding mental health conditions primarily through their physical causes, such as biological and physiological factors. This perspective asserts that psychological disorders have underlying medical issues that can often be identified and treated through medical intervention. This includes recognizing how genetics, brain chemistry, and neuroanatomy influence mental health. Therefore, strategies for treatment often involve pharmacological interventions and other medical treatments aimed at addressing these physiological elements.

In contrast to the medical model, some other perspectives focus on different aspects of psychology. Social influences on behavior, for instance, pertain to how society and interpersonal relationships impact mental health, which is not the primary concern of the medical model. Individual learning experiences relate to behavioral and cognitive approaches that prioritize personal history and environmental factors in shaping behavior rather than direct medical causes. Additionally, a focus on observable behaviors only leads to a behaviorist outlook, which does not consider the internal physiological processes emphasized by the medical model.