1.
What is biological psychology?
Biological psychology, commonly referred to as biopsychology and
also referred to as psychobiology, behavioral neuroscience, or behavioral
biology is the scientific study of the biology of behavior (Pinel, 2009). Biopsychology
or biological psychology is a branch of psychology, which analyzes how neurotransmitters
and the brain influence individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
2.
What is the historical development of biological
psychology?
During the 20th century, biopsychology developed into a major
neuroscientific discipline after D. O. Hebb published The Organization of
Behavior in 1949, which played a key role in its emergence (Pinel, 2009).
Through this book, the first comprehensive theory of how complex psychological
phenomena was developed by Hebb, such as emotions, perceptions, memories, and
thoughts might be produced by brain activity (Pinel, 2009). Pinel (2009),
“Hebb’s theory did much to discredit the view that psychological functioning is
too complex to have its roots in the physiology and chemistry of the brain” (p.
4). Hebb’s theory was developed from insightful observations of daily life, and
is based on experiments that involved laboratory animals and humans, on logical
arguments and on clinical case studies (Pinel, 2009). The approach that Hebb
took is a trademark of biopsychological inquiry. As of today, tools such as PET
and MRI scans are used by scientists to look at how brain damage, disease, and
drugs impact cognitive functioning and behavior.
3.
Name one to three important theorists associated with
biological psychology.
Donald O. Hebb, Rene Descartes, and Charles Darwin are three
important theorist associated with biological psychology. Biopsychology
developed into a major neuroscientific discipline after D. O. Hebb published
The Organization of Behavior in 1949, which played a key role in its emergence
(Pinel, 2009). Descartes’ beliefs were that the mind and the body were two
entirely different things. He thought of the mind or soul being as non-physical
and independent of the material world, and that the body was composed of
physical matter (Chavez, 2009). Darwin was one of the earliest scientists who
made the connection between psychology and biology. Darwin referred to the
connection he made between psychology and biology as biological psychology instinct
for survival (Tyrer, 2009).
4.
Describe the relationship between biological psychology
and other fields in psychology and neuroscience.
The relationship between biopsychology and other neuroscientific
disciplines further defines biopsychology (Pinel, 2009). Biopsychology, fields
of psychology and neuroscience all search for an understanding of the functions
of the brain and how it reacts to behaviors. Biopsychologists are members of
the team effort of neuroscience, and are neuroscientists, who provide the knowledge
of behavior and of the methods of behavioral research to their research (Pinel,
2009). The behavioral orientation and expertise of biopsychologists make their
contributions unique to neuroscience (Pinel, 2009). The contributions of
neuroscience are significant in providing information through its research and
the discoveries of the neural and biological processes are important to
biopsychology for applications in diagnoses and treatments (Wickens, 2005). Biopsychology
and neuroscience use their combined research and data received from the
research in studying the nervous system to understand behavior and the factors
that contribute to the behaviors expressed.
5.
Describe the major underlying assumptions of a
biopsychological approach.
The major underlying assumptions of the biopsychological approach
are that biological events cause mental consequences and that mental events
cause biological consequences (Wickens, 2005). Biopsychologists believe that the
mental and biological processes are linked to each other and cannot be
separated. The inextricable connection between the two is defined by these
assumptions (Wickens, 2005).
Chavez, C.H. (2009). Helium. Retrieved from
http://www.helium.com/items/1415090-psychology-what-is-biological-psychology
Tyrer, M. (2009). Helium. Retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/1691696-psychology-what-is-biological-psychology
Wickens, A. (2005). Foundations of Biopsychology (2nd
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice- Hall.
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