Biological Bases of Behavior
The biological bases of behavior refer to the influence of physiological processes on an individual's actions, thoughts, and emotions. This includes the study of the brain, nervous system, genetics, and hormones, and how they impact behavior. Understanding these biological underpinnings is crucial for comprehending various psychological phenomena and developing effective interventions for mental health issues.
7 Key excerpts on "Biological Bases of Behavior"
- Nancy Fenton, Jessica Flitter(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Research & Education Association(Publisher)
...Chapter 5 Biological Bases of Behavior Biological psychology can be traced to the beginnings of psychology because it has its roots in physiology. The field of biological psychology, also called neuroscience, focuses on how genes, the nervous system, and the endocrine system influence behaviors and mental processes. Technological advances have allowed biological psychologists to provide a more complete understanding of what occurs on a physiological level during a psychological experience such as thinking or memory. Heredity, Environment, and Evolution An important aspect of the study of psychology is the interplay among genetic, environmental, and evolutionary influences. Complex human traits, such as intelligence, aggression, altruism, and personality, are influenced by all of these factors. For instance, psychologists attempt to determine how an individual’s level of aggression is impacted by inheritance and exposure to violence, as well as why aggressive tendencies were naturally selected. Biologists and psychologists are both interested in the various influences of nature and nurture on human traits. Biologists study physical traits, such as height and eye color, or susceptibility to diseases, such as cancer. In contrast, psychologists are interested in behavioral traits and psychological illnesses. Behavioral traits include aggression, intelligence, personality, etc.; psychological illnesses include anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, etc. The scientific discipline of behavioral genetics attempts to integrate the influences of heredity, environment, and evolution in terms of their effect on human behavior. Heredity Biological psychologists are interested in the study of heredity, or how the traits of parents are transmitted biologically to offspring. The nucleus of each human cell contains forty-six chromosomes, twenty-three donated by each parent. Chromosomes that determine gender are known as the X and Y chromosomes...
eBook - ePub- B.D. Hames(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Taylor & Francis(Publisher)
...Section A - Biological Bases of Behavior A1 E VOLUTION AND BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY Key Notes The biological context of psychology Psychology is a biological science: we are products of evolution, and our mental processes and behavior depend on physiological processes. Some approaches to psychology emphasize this biological basis, examining human behavior in an evolutionary context, comparing human behavior with that of other species, or examining its physiological bases. Evolution Modern species, including humans, have evolved by processes of natural selection. The relationships amongst species are described by a phylogenetic tree. Genetics and the ‘nature-nurture’ issue We inherit genes that code for particular molecules, and these form our genetic makeup (genotype). Our genotype influences our structural and psychological phenotype (final individual characteristics). Extreme positions on the ‘nature-nurture’ issue have been largely replaced by a recognition of the importance of both genetic and environmental influences on psychological characteristics. Related topics The nature of development (H1) Heredity, the environment and intelligence (K8) The biological context of psychology Whatever else it may be, psychology is a biological science. This is, first, because we are the products of evolution. Second, mental processes and behavior are dependent on the nervous system and the endocrine system. Biological psychology (or psychobiology) includes any approach to psychology that places it in its biological context; that is, examining the Biological Bases of Behavior. In its broadest sense, this can be the examination of the evolution of human behavior, in a field known as evolutionary psychology. Principles from studies of the adaptive functions of structures and behaviors in other species are extended to try to explain human behavior...
eBook - ePub- Matt Jarvis(Author)
- 2005(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...they reduce complex psychological phenomena to simple biological processes. This can have negative consequences. In the example given above, for example, whilst old paint might be one contributing factor in the relationship between poverty and intellectual development it certainly isn’t the only factor or even the most important one. We could not remove the impact of poverty just by repainting all old properties, and it is dangerous and misleading to suggest that we could. There will always be some aspects of psychology that cannot be explained by adopting a physiological approach. For example, we might know that people suffering from depression typically have lowered levels of serotonin, and that we can correct this with drugs. However, this does not tell us why people who lost a parent in early childhood are more likely to suffer depression as an adult. That requires another level of explanation that can be provided by one of the other theoretical approaches. Summary Biological approaches to psychology use three key ideas from biology, genetics, evolution and physiology to understand psychology. Behavioural genetics is the study of the heritability of psychological characteristics. Genes have been implicated in a number of psychological variables, including intelligence and some mental disorders. Evolutionary psychologists have suggested that many of our characteristics and abilities have developed through a process of evolution because they are useful to us in some way. Neurophysiology focuses on the structure and function of the brain and nervous system and the ways in which these contribute to psychological functioning. New scanning techniques have allowed us to gain an increasing knowledge of brain function. One area of study in neurophysiology concerns bodily rhythms. Our knowledge of circadian rhythms has allowed us to understand the effects of jet lag and shiftwork. An understanding of ultradian rhythms has enriched our knowledge of sleep and dreaming...
eBook - ePub- Don J. Sharpsteen(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Research & Education Association(Publisher)
...CHAPTER 3 Biological Bases of Behavior CHAPTER 3 Biological Bases of Behavior Nothing psychological can happen without a body and communication among its parts (the brain, muscles, glands, organs, nerves, arms, legs, and so forth). The field of behavioral neuroscience is concerned with how this communication happens and how behavior is influenced by it. In large part it deals with the nervous system —an organization of neurons, neurotransmitters, and brain structures that serves as the framework for moving information throughout the body. NEURONS Thinking, feeling, or doing things requires that information about the environment or the body is transferred from one place inside you to another. There are some parts of the body (i.e., sense receptors) that detect heat, or light, or touch and then pass information about those stimuli on to the brain, thereby triggering thoughts about those things and/or causing behavioral responses to occur. The pathways for this communication are called neurons (i.e., nerve cells), and there are three different types. Sensory neurons (or afferent neurons) take in information from body tissues and sense organs, and transmit it to the spinal cord and brain; motor neurons (or efferent neurons) send information in the opposite direction; and interneurons (or association neurons) are neurons that communicate with other neurons. As shown in Figure 3.1, neurons consist of a cell body (which contains structures that help to keep the cell alive and functioning), dendrites (short, bushy fibers that take information in from outside the cell), axons (relatively long fibers—some extending up to several feet—that pass information along to other nerve cells, to glands, or to muscles), and, on some neurons, a myelin sheath (a fatty tissue that surrounds the axon and accelerates transmission of information). Figure 3.1 Anatomy of a Neuron Neurons do their work through the use of electrical impulses and neurotransmitters...
eBook - ePubSupporting Positive Behaviour in Early Childhood Settings and Primary Schools
Relationships, Reciprocity and Reflection
- Leah O'Toole, Nóirín Hayes(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...CHAPTER 6 The biological bases of behaviour INTRODUCTION This chapter will help readers to understand how simple biological considerations such as hunger and tiredness can impact on children’s behaviour, and to identify simple interventions based on this knowledge that can prevent episodes of negative behaviour from occurring. Readers will also be introduced to the role of temperament, the concept of ‘executive function’ and how children’s brain development over time can have implications for their behaviour through the development of skills such as impulse control and self-regulation. Children’s biological needs for movement and play will also be emphasised, along with a caution for educators to avoid mistaking an inability to sit still for misbehaviour. Some additional sensory needs will be considered. However, the hypothesis of a biological basis to behaviour will not be presented uncritically, and the chapter will introduce the ‘biopsychosocial’ model (Engel, 1977) as one means of understanding the complex and integrated way in which biology interacts with psychological and social factors to influence behaviour. BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR When a child presents with difficult or unwanted behaviour it is valuable to take the time to look beyond the immediate presenting behaviour and consider different possible explanations that might explain it and allow for differentiated action from the educator. This is particularly useful when trying to get to know a child or, with children you already know, when seeking to understand an unexplained or unexpected behaviour. There are many different factors that can lead to children exhibiting unwanted behaviour and, in some cases we can identify multiple different potential causes leading to the development of the presenting difficulty – causes such as poor regulation of emotions, environmental stress or genetically based problems...
eBook - ePub- Colin Cooper(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...They also have to suggest that the environment (including social processes) is all important in maintaining adult personality. Biological theories, by way of contrast, suggest that all children are not equal at birth because of variations in their genetic makeup which lead to individual differences in the structure and function of their brains and nervous systems. They stress the importance of genetic factors and biological mechanisms (sometimes directly related to the amount of activity in certain regions of the brain) in determining behaviour. Finally it is important to consider the interaction between biological and social factors, for any biological predisposition to behave in a certain way can only show itself given an appropriate environment; for example, a child brought up in social isolation is unlikely to show many signs of Extraversion, even if they are genetically predisposed to do so. The problem with genetic analyses is that the biological mechanisms they identify are not very specific, unless we start looking at the effects of individual genes (and their interactions) on personality – a field known as molecular genetics. However most of the literature addresses a much more general question – the extent to which our genetic makeup as a whole influences each personality trait. We will see in Chapter 15 that Extraversion is moderately heritable – which basically just tells us that some aspect of our biological makeup is linked to how extraverted we are. We can guess that the genes which are involved are likely to influence our brains – but as we know that many genes are involved and each gene affects a great number of brain and other systems, we cannot use this approach to pinpoint exactly what is going on at the cortical level to cause some people who experience some environments to become extraverted. Studying brain damage presents similar problems...
eBook - ePub- Lewis R. Aiken(Author)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Psychology Press(Publisher)
...It is the seat of consciousness and behavior and the regulator of the nervous system, the musculoskeletal system, the endocrine system, and other body structures. At the beginning of the 20th century, the older dualistic definition of psychology as the study of the mind was replaced by the definition of psychology as the science of human and animal behavior. A similar move toward monism was seen in medicine with the holistic concept of psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatic medicine is based on the notion that thoughts and emotions can exacerbate and precipitate physical illnesses, and physical illness, in turn, can affect psychological functioning. Precipitated in some measure by advances in computing machines and neuropsychology, recently there has been a further modification of the definition of psychology to include cognitive processes. Psychology has been redefined as the study of behavior and cognition—a change that has been viewed by some as a return to mentalism or dualism. In any event, modern behavioral scientists recognize that behavior, cognitive processes, and personality are shaped and regulated by the structure and functioning of the human body. Understanding these influences and how they occur is the goal not only of modern psychology but also of many biologists, neuro-chemists, and health scientists. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an introduction to the ideas and findings of researchers in the natural sciences as they bear on our understanding of individual and group differences among people...
