PSYCHOLOGY 101: Understanding Biological Psychology
There are three theoretical perspectives in psychology that attempt to explain human behavior.
The three perspectives are: Evolutionary Psychology, Behavioral Genetics, and Behavioral Neuroscience.
These perspectives have been researched extensively in an effort to explain the complex sum of behavior and the mind drives human beings act the way they do. The three perspectives of psychology all have valid theories based on research, I believe all three directly influence human behavior in a specific way.
Evolutionary psychology is a perspective that processes human nature as a grouping of evolved psychological adaptations to consistently resurfacing problems in the environments of our ancestors. The bottom line is we are shaped by the our ancestors who in turn were shaped by the environment they lived in. Our ancestors passed on a mind that evolved with adaptive behavior that was geared to solve problems in order to survive. Human beings possess natural selection which is defined as something that will improve an organism’s chance of survival. Natural selection is behavioral and physical adaptations we used to live in a specific environment. Human beings have had several options when presented with problems with the current living conditions: first, move to a different location; second, change the environment some way and third, go extinct. Since we are still in existence and thriving today is a testament to our ability to use our minds and behavior to overcome problems. Adaptations are not conscious decisions that we deliberately make, it is something that is built physically and behaviorally without knowledge to survive. If we were...
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...tural selection and fitness. Under Behavioral Neuroscience, humans have the same nerves, brain, and neurological make up. But no two people are really the same brain or nerves because they affect each person differently by producing unique behavior. Lastly, Behavior Genetics examines heritability of traits and how genes passed on that influence human behavior. Behaviors with family members can identify trends of behavior but they are not always accurate. The human body is a complex organism and is like a car in a way. When something is wrong, you have to diagnosis it because there are hundreds of things that are affect poor performance or when something is not working properly. The same diagnosis applies to human behavior, I believe human behavior is situation dependent and all three theoretical perspectives play a part in how we behave.
Though both of these things talk about the same basic idea, there are many differences s...
Zastrow, C. H., & Krist-Ashman, K. K. (2013). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment (9 ed.). Belmont:
Behaviourism is a theory of learning which suggests that all behaviours are obtained as a result of conditioning...
Research completed on infants, children, and adults across a multitude of cultural environments proposes that no human mind is alike. Spelke found that the four systems on core knowledge are a basis for cognitive systems. This means that some humans learn things easily, while others learn with greater difficulty (Kinzler and Spelke 2007). The core knowledge theory can be seen as both a positive and negative topic. The possible fact that human beings, as well as other species, could potentially be predisposed to cognitive capacities instead of acquiring capacities through experience is an overwhelming and controversial topic. There is not enough research or evidence to deem the core knowledge theory to be an absolute fact, but a strong opinion could be derived. If these cognitive capacities are integrated into us before birth, that would create a strong foundation for building new skills or capacities; it would be difficult to imagine an individual starting their life without this foundation of core symptoms because problems may arise. The core knowledge theory is helpful when studying development because the idea has been apparent in studies since Jean Piaget and could eventually unveil the roots of an evolutionary
Inheritance, by Sharon Moalem, is a nonfiction novel that elaborates on what makes us who we are and why. Moalem states that even before we are born, our genes set up determines our lives. Our genes are adaptable sequences that can be altered by instances of trauma, simple dietary change, or just a small indiscretion. Through our experiences, our genes are changing and consequently limiting us. We have an unwavering predictable matter of the genes we have inherited from previous generations. Our future children could inherit many of our specific genes, good or bad. Even if our inherited
As I mentioned before our environment has a great effect on our nature. For example a theory claimed that, the first humans were originated in Africa in the time frame of 115,00...
My paper is based on an article from the text’s web site (chapter 9) entitled “Lack of sleep ages body’s systems.” The basic claim of the article is that sleep deprivation has various harmful effects on the body. The reported effects include decreased ability to metabolize glucose (similar to what occurs in diabetes) and increased levels of cortisol (a stress hormone involved in memory and regulation of blood sugar levels). The article also briefly alludes (in the quote at the bottom of page 1) to unspecified changes in brain and immune functioning with sleep deprivation.
According to Darwin and his theory on evolution, organisms are presented with nature’s challenge of environmental change. Those that possess the characteristics of adapting to such challenges are successful in leaving their genes behind and ensuring that their lineage will continue. It is natural selection, where nature can perform tiny to mass sporadic experiments on its organisms, and the results can be interesting from extinction to significant changes within a species. Human beings are no exception to biological evolution. Like other organisms around the world, humans have significantly changed over time and have developed all sorts of diverse characteristics.
One of the principles of the biological level of analysis is that behavior is a result of various complex processes. Human behavior is likely to change due to self-related, environmental, and social influences. Nuerons in our body can often be called the building blocks to behavior. Therefore, neurotransmission, the method in which the neurons send messages that creates a synapse, essentially creates the behavior. Different neurotransmitters hold different effects to human behavior like serotonin with the effect of arousal/sleep and dopamine with the effect of pleasure. This exhibits how neurotransmission has an effect on human behavior.
Off the five developmental theories, I would like to describe and explain two grand theories, Cognitive theory and Behaviorism.
Evolution is the process through which the genetic makeup of a population changes over generations and is the key focus of paleoanthropologists who specialize in the study of human evolution. Random forces surrounding a particular population have been known to contribute substantially to evolutionary change, not to undermine the impact that adaptation, “a series of beneficial adjustments of organisms to their environment”, has on evolutionary processes. Adaptation is deeply tied to the theory of evolution through a process called natural selection, first theorized by Charles Darwin during his observation of various ecosystems around the world between 1831 and 1836. Natural selection is “the principle or mechanism by which individuals having biological characteristics best suited to a particular environment survive and reproduce with greater frequency than individuals without those characteristics”. Humans are unique in their ability to adapt to changes in their environment both biologically and culturally. As humans developed and continued to expand their territories of inhabitation, an increased
Those principals are able to define the cognitive level of analysis to a point where it can help with more research into cognition. And while these principals may be very useful for more research and they can be demonstrated through research there is still some space for doubt. This does not automatically mean that the cognitive level of analysis is the only thing that influences behavior. All the other levels of analysis need to be taken into account for the influences on behavior before taking a determined decision on what influences behavior. Other than that theses principals have helped to develop new theories and discover different models that help further research into the cognitive level of
Throughout our lives we have all been influenced by our environment and other outside forces. Our environment may change the way we think, act and behave in life. Since we are all products of our environment, it comes to no surprise that we, as humans, tend to behave in a society the same way others around us behave but at the same time we strive to find who we really are (Schaefer 73). Since birth, humans have always analyzed the world around them. With each day that passes, humans take in more and more information from the outside world. The information which humans obtain through their environment subconsciously influences the decisions people make throughout their daily life (Neubauer 16). On the other hand, our genetics also play a vital role in determining what type of person we are and what will we become.
Undoubtedly heredity is responsible for the growth of a person from the fetus till the end, for the colour, sex and all other distinguishing traits and features. However it cannot totally develop a person into an intelligent knowledgeable person. This is only possible through the exposure, experiences that a person gets from his surroundings, his environment. Man being the product of evolution has greater capacity of adaptability and he can adjust himself with any environment. Heredity and environment thus are equally important and together they determine our
Since the beginning of human existence, there has been struggle for survival from nature. Humans hunt for food, cut down trees for shelter, and other resources that Earth provides. In time humans evolved beyond their current physical and mental limitations which is known as transhumanism. Thus, leading a boundary between human civilization and nature.