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Jun 16, 2023 · The different approaches to psychology take contrasting views of whether the mind and body are separate or related. Thinking (having freedom of choice) is a mental event, yet it can cause behavior to occur (muscles move in response to a thought).
- Issues and Debates
- Investigation of Inheritance
- Methods of Studying The Brain
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Free will vs. determinism
It is strongly determinist as it views behavior as caused entirely by biological factors over which individuals have no control.
Nature vs. nurture
The biological approach is firmly on the nature side of the debate; however, it does recognize that our brain is a plastic organthat changes with experience in our social world, so it does not entirely deny the influence of nurture. Cross-cultural researchinvolves studying a particular behavior (e.g., gender, facial expressions) across different cultures. If the behavior is found to be similar across cultures, psychologists conclude that differences in behavior are biologically (i.e., nature)...
Holism vs. reductionism
The biological approach is reductionist as it aims to explain all behavior by the action of genetic or biochemical processes. It neglects the influence of factors such as early childhood experiences, conditioning, or cognitive processes.
Twin studies provide geneticists with a kind of natural experiment in which the behavioral likeness of identical twins (whose genetic relatedness is 1.0) can be compared with the resemblance of dizygotic twins (whose genetic relatedness is 0.5). In other words, if heredity (i.e., genetics) affects a given trait or behavior, then identical twins sho...
It is important to appreciate that the human brainis a highly complicated piece of biological machinery. Scientists have only just “scratched the surface” of understanding the many functions of the workings of the human brain. The brain can influence many types of behavior. In addition to studying brain-damaged patients, we can find out about the w...
The Voyage of the Beagle(1805 – 1836) – Darwin formulated his theory of natural selection by observing animals while traveling the world. Harlow (1848): Phineas Gage brain injury case studyprovides neuroscience with significant information regarding the working of the brain. Darwin (1859) publishes On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selec...
Jul 1, 2018 · This paper presents an overview of the current investigations related to body memory by bringing together recent studies from neuropsychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary and cognitive psychology.
Oct 3, 2023 · If you are interested in the field of biopsychology, then it is essential to understand biological processes, basic anatomy, and physiology. Three of the most important components to understand are the brain, the nervous system, and neurotransmitters.
This chapter will discuss states of consciousness with a particular emphasis on sleep. You’ll learn about the different stages of sleep, sleep disorders as well as the altered states of consciousness produced by psychoactive drugs, hypnosis, and meditation.
Jan 17, 2024 · The limbic system is a complex set of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory, and behavior regulation. Key components include the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. Where is the limbic system located?
Sep 25, 2019 · The feel of our heart beat, the rumble of an empty stomach, the pleasure of a deep breath. Interoception — the ability to perceive the internal state of our bodies — is central to our thoughts, emotions, decision-making, and sense of self.
