Biological (neurobiological) Perspective
Table of Contents: A. Outline, B. Summary of the Perspective, C. Fundamental area(s) to review and study, D. Examples for discussion, E. Basis for IB exam questions:
A. Outline
I Development and Cultural Contexts (do not need to differentiate between the two)
1. Historical and cultural conditions that gave rise to the biological perspective
§ scientific discoveries about biological processes
§ cultural variation in the acceptance of the biological perspective
2. Contribution of the biological perspective to the scientific study of behavior, and its current standing
§ biological correlates of behavior § genetic contributions to explanations of behavior
§ effects of hormonal change on behavior § experimental testing of hypotheses
§ use of both quantitative and qualitative research
II Conceptual framework (the theory)
1. Key concepts
§ how physiological concepts such as the nervous system, endocrine system, and genetics affect behavior
§ neurotransmitters-excitatory, inhibitory § the brain-localization of function
§ bodily rhythms
2. Assumptions on which key concepts are based
§ evaluation of innate disposition and environmental influences
§ imprinting
§ relative influence of inherited and environmental factors on behavior, i.e. intelligence – nature/nurture inseparable
3. Evaluation of assumptions
§ use of alternative perspectives as a possible evaluative strategy
4. Theoretical explanations of behavioural change
§ use of drugs; surgical procedures
§ psychological correlates of physiological processes, such as emotion, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
III Methodology
1. Methods
§ correlational studies § double-blind trials § experiments
§ interviews / questionnaires § case studies ie brain injury, psychosurgery § scans, EEGs, etc.
Often use experimental research methods
2. Strengths and limitations of methods
§ comparison of invasive and non-invasive techniques
3. Ethics and controversies of research
§ use of human and non-human animals for research
IV Application
1. Effectiveness of the perspective in explaining psychological and/or social questions
§ comparison with other perspectives on questions such as aggression, gender differences or stress
§ application of genetic research and its ethical implications
2. Recommendations for change in lifestyles
§ contribution of the biological perspective to changes in education, work or therapy
3. Issues/Constrictions
§ the physiological system is extremely complex and our techniques for studying it relatively crude – advances are constrained by limited technology
§ problems explaining consciousness and the “mind-body” connection/relationship
B. Summary of the Perspective
1. Overview:
- Until mid 19th century, humans saw themselves as distinct from animals.
- Since Darwin, generally accept that humans have evolved from animals and we have a substantial number of physiological and behavioral characteristics in common and share much of our genetic makeup. This has led to an increase in research into basic physiological mechanisms and processes to explain human behavior.
- Behavior is explained as an interaction between innate disposition and environment.
- Brain scans have shown that physiological components play a crucial role in behaviors like aggression, stress and learning. These techniques are also increasingly used in therapy to alleviate behaviors caused by psychological disorders
- Calls into question the relationship between mind (our conscious awareness) and body (physical body, brain and nervous system) – are they separate as once thought, or are they simply different aspects of an underlying unity.
- mind: psychological v. physiological term – refers essentially to our conscious awareness (mind ¹ brain) – current research shows brain is involved in our conscious awareness but uncertain exactly how or if it involves only the brain
- Emphasizes biological and neurological bases as underpinnings of behavior and mental processes
- interested in the effects of heredity and environment on behavior, how the CNS and its components (structural and chemical) affect physiological processes i.e. how drugs affect the CNS and the organisms development, etc.
- Sees human as biological organism – what we do and think based in our physical structure
- Two key concepts foundation of approach: materialism and heredity i.e. mind has a physical base and behavior can be inherited – this influences both the type of questions asked by this perspective and the type of research done
- Most challenging questions of this perspective = interactions between mind and body - Everyday we encounter situations where the body affects the mind (that coffee made you tense) or when mind effects body (the executive develops high blood pressure) – what is the mechanism of these interactions
- weaknesses:
- reductionist - may not be analogous to animals/relevant to humans
2. Brief history:
- Developed out of two major concerns – A. relationship between mind and body and B. influence of heredity on behavior
A. relationship between mind and body
- Brain ultimately responsible for behavior – until recently – very radical – as late as the 17th century – seen as dual structures of soul and body
- Descartes tried to reconcile science and religion by understanding the connection between body and soul
- Dualism dominant in Western culture for most of 2 centuries
- Crucial insight – 1745, a French physician contracted a fever and noticed its affect on his mental state as well as his physical state – based on this wrote a book arguing that the mind and body are not separate but the mind is part of the body – caused tremendous outcry but he held to his views
- French revolution, another French physician argued that guillotine victims were not conscious after beheading because consciousness product of brain just like digestion product of stomach
- 1861, French physician at an insane asylum encountered a case where a man had lost his ability to speak coherently after a serious head injury – Broca (i.e. Broca’s area) was able to show in a post-mortem autopsy that his inability to speak lay in damage to a specific part of the brain
- led to a gradual change in attitude from seeing behavior as governed by an intangible soul to the modern view of behavior having a physiological basis
- Today – biological psychol. reject dualism – monism – mind and body are single entity
B. influence of heredity on behavior
- The other aspect; heredity also developed gradually
- 18th c people believed each species of plant and animal had been created individually – however – a 1735 catalogue of over 4000 plant and animal species suggested connections
- 1809 1st widely known theory of species development (or evolution) – argued that variations developed through inheritance of acquired characteristics i.e. giraffes acquired long necks because each generation strained a little further to get food slightly stretching their necks and passing this on to their offspring – discredited but significant step
- real revolution came of course with the work of Darwin and his The Origin of Species in 1859 – variations among individuals of a species would occur by chance and then in turn passed on if those variations helped the individual survive long enough to reproduce i.e. survival of the fittest and natural selection – advocated inheritance of characteristics and an evolutionary link between humans and other species – further developed in The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (Darwin did not work on the specific mechanism of inheritance that came with the work of Mendel)
-connections between awareness and behavior are complex
C. Fundamental area(s) to review and study:
- Unit 3 (chapter 2) - Biological Bases of Behavior (obviously): nervous system (including parts, function, neurotransmitters), brain (including parts, function and ways studied), endocrine system, genetics
D. Examples for discussion – Biology and behavior:
- Circadian Rythms (Unit 5 Part 2) - Split brain patients (Unit 3)
- Drugs (Unit 5 Part 1) - Learning (unit 6)
- Motivation and Emotion (unit 9 Parts 1 & 2) - Stress (Unit 9 Part 3)
- Abnormal behavior and treatment (Unit 12) - Social (unit 13)
- Human Development, Personality, Sex Roles i.e. heritablity, twin studies, etc. (Unit 10 and Unit 11 - tons of stuff here)
- Behaviors impact on health i.e. placebo effect, stress routes, type A personality and correlations with health problems, etc.
- Nature v. nurture
E. Basis for IB exam questions:
- Describe and evaluate the four topics (Development and cultural contexts, Framework, Methodology, Application) as they relate to the perspective.
- Describe and evaluate theories and empirical studies within the perspective.
- Explain how cultural, ethical, gender and methodological considerations affect the interpretation of behavior from this perspective.
- Compare theories, empirical studies and the four topics of this perspective with those from other perspectives.
- Identify and explain the strengths and limitations (weaknesses) of the perspective’s explanation of behavior.
- Explain the extent to which free will and determinism are integral to this perspective.
- Explain and evaluate claims that correlates exist between physiological processes and psychological behaviors
- Discuss controversies surrounding a reductionist approach as adopted by many biological psychologists