Biological perspective assumes that behavior is cause by that of the nervous system. So everything we say, do and think are due to brain activity between neutrons. Since our brain is determine somewhat by our genes we get from our parents, our behavior may be predetermined by these genetic factors. Since our genes are part of the evolutionary theory, psychologists think that behavior may have evolutionary explanations as to why we act the way we do. Genetic influences, in some behaviors like hallucinations and other disorders are the effect of faulty inherited genes. These genes are said to be the cause of malfunctioning within the nervous system thus explaining our behaviors. This perspective supports that nurture has more to do with ones behavioral than nature, it also provides unambiguous predictions, meaning it can be justified and scientifically proved. Behavior is validated based on biology terms like genes.
An old theory of "biology as destiny," emphasized that nervous system including the brain was the underline of all behavior. However, the brain has not always been thought of as the center of mental activity, early philosophers like Aristotle believed that the heart influenced our mind. Not until 1890, William James concluded that humans could be best understood through the studying on the nervous system. Recently MRI, PET, CAT scans have advanced our comprehension of the neurological systems. The nervous system is like a great processing system, which is able to receive input through our five senses, store and output information as well through memories and remembering. The nervous system is compromised of two sections the central nervous system (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System. Furthermore the Periphera...
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... of drugs. Perhaps it's the drugs ability to make one forget about our current problems we face. Another factor that influences and reinforces drug consumption is the fact that when they are not consuming this drug, consumers don't feel right. The way this drug makes them feel makes them believe that in order to feel good about themselves is through the use and consumption of the drugs. A negative reinforcement in this situation would also be a good example because if a family member dies of an overdose, then one knows the consequences of drug consumption may lead to death and is more likely not to consume them. An example of punishment would be if one of your parents tells you not to consume drugs because if you do then they'll punish you very badly so the child knows what will be the cause of them even thinking about doing drugs. So therefore not consume them.
In this essay, we have been asked to evaluate two psychological perspectives’ in relation to “typical behaviour”. The perspectives I have chosen is the behaviourist and biological approach, to be able analyse these approaches, I have decide to use the case study of the death of the two year old ‘James Bulger’ and with this, the relevant therapy’s used by each perspective.
Anders Behring Breivik was a Norwegian extremist and a terrorist who had bombed a government building and then shot and killed a number of youths at a camp. His actions were not impulsive, but instead meticulously planned. For years he fostered feelings of hatred and aggression, particularly after his failed businesses and his involvement with the right wing terror organization whose ideology was on anti-Islam and anti-mulitculturism. Breivik perceived that Muslims were invading Europe and conspiring with politicians to take over Norway. Hence, his decision to destroy the present and future politicians of government. Allport (1920), in his theory of Social Facilitation, fleshes out the impression that the presence of others (the social group) can facilitate certain behaviour (McLeod, 2007).
Since the beginnings of psychology the debate of nature verses nurture has been going on. Certain psychologists take the position of the nature perspective. They argue that people are born with predispositions towards certain personalities, traits and other characteristics that help shape them into the people that they become later in life. Meanwhile multiple other psychologists argue the nurture perspective. They believe that people are born as a blank slate and their experiences over the course of life help shape their personalities, traits, and other characteristics.
Biological focuses on the body and brain being the dominant influences of behavior and thinking.
The biological perspective examines how brain processes and other bodily functions regulate behaviour. It emphasizes that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behaviour, thought, and emotion. It is believed that thoughts and emotions have a physical basis in the brain. Electrical impulses zoom throughout the brain’s cells, releasing chemical substances that enable us to think, feel, and behave. René Descartes (1596–1650) wrote an influential book (De Homine [On Man]) in which he tried to explain how the behaviour of animals, and to some extent the behaviour of humans, could be like t...
The biological approach to psychology makes the assumption that all behaviours are associated with changes in the brain function and that psychopathology will be caused by a disorder within the brain, neuroanatomy. Many biological psychologists tend to assume that most behaviours, normal and disordered, involve an inherited component from the biological parents. In theory this suggests that all behaviours can be related to changes in brain activity.
Some perspectives assume that in our behaviour exists genetic basis that we inherit and they are the result of our conduct and actions. On the other hand, the nurture believes that the behaviour is learnt by experiences and are divided between social and physical influences. According to Psychodynamic perspective believes in nature and nurture by the fact that psychodynamic believes that our behaviour is in the brain structure and hormones but at the same time is related to past experiences. for example, a child diagnosed aggressive within school, his mother replies that the child 's father had the same aggressive behaviour and troubles with the police however, the child never met his father therefore, the child inherited his father 's behaviour. Behaviourist perspective argues that everything comes from experiences and rewards. for example, a mother who is teaching his daughter to be tidy through her behaviour and reward his daughter depends on her
Biological and cognitive are both different theoretical perspectives. They both have unique differences. The biological and cognitive approaches differ in their view on the nature versus nurture debate. The biological approach focuses on nature rather than nurture. It believes that behavior is determined by internal physiological processes such as the structure and functions of the neurons, hormones, DNA and structure of the brain. The cognitive perspective goes into the domain of mental processes to understand human nature. This perspective shows how we learn, make decisions, use language, plan for future, and form judgments.
Psychoanalysis is a set of psychological and psychotherapeutic theories based on the work of Sigmund Freud. Freud is also known as the father of psychology. He was an expert in neurology, study of nervous system, neurons, etc. The present context of the class which is the study of the brain is greatly related to Freud’s theories and ideas.
Comparing the Behavioral Perspective and the Cognitive Perspective The behavioral perspective is the idea that if psychology was to be a science, then it must focus on events, which are directly observable on behavior, rather than on mental life. The behavioral perspective maintains the primary emphasis on observable behavior and its relation to environmental events. Behavioral perspective is through reinforcement, which is the idea that patterns of emitted behavior can be selected by their consequences. Cognitive perspective is centered on the description of the nature and development of the representation of knowledge. It comes from three points of view, which are the theory of information processing, the inability of behaviorism to provide a comprehensive account for all aspects of human behavior, and the invention of the computer.
"The premise behind the biological perspective in psychology is that all actions, feelings, and thoughts are associated with bodily events." Biological psychologists examine how all of the electrical impulses, hormones, and chemicals flowing through the body can effect behavior and how changes to these bodily functions can change behavior. They are concerned with how the aspects of biology effect peoples' emotions, learning abilities, and their perception of events.
Without contrast, the primary reason for drug abuse in individuals comes from the conscious state of addiction. According to Webster’s, addiction is described as “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity (Hacker, 2011).” Sure, human nature’s desire to conform to peer pressure might cause one to first try a certain drug, but the euphoric mental states found in drugs mentally trap many individuals into becoming dependent upon these sensations. With that being said, these sensations vary depending on the type of drug used.
Humans are environmentally and genetically predisposed to developing a motivated addictive behavior. Addiction is a brain disease and a behavior. All behaviors are choices. Choices that adolescences make at a young age directly affect the outcomes of their futures. Many factors contribute to an adolescence becoming an addict or exhibiting a drug seeking behavior. Nearly all drugs of abuse increase dopamine release. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine plays a role in reward motivated behaviors, motor control and important hormones. It’s known as the “feel good hormone” which is why people abuse drugs that increase the release of dopamine. Since life is unpredictable, our brains have evolved the ability to remodel themselves in response to our experiences. The more we practice an activity the more neurons developed in order to fine-tune that activity causing addictive behaviors to be detrimental.
The human body is a complex organism, it is comprised of numerous individual systems that all work together to maintain the living body. Working as the chief system in the body is the Nervous System. The Nervous System as defined by ( Miriam Webster, 2014) is “a system of nerves in the body that send and receive messages for controlling movement and feeling between the brain and the rest of the body.” The Nervous System is further complex and divided into 2 systems that work together to process and perform all voluntary and involuntary functions.
Drug abuse and addiction not only has negative effects in the lives of the people involved, but also in the lives of their close relatives, friends and immediate society. It leads to disintegration, failure in school, loss of employment and violence. Although intake of drugs is a voluntary and conscious decision initially, continuous intake of drugs changes the brain and challenges the self-control of the “addicted person” and inhibits the ability to resist extreme desire for drug intake.