BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY -reconstructs the evolutionary history

-is the study of the physiological, evolutionary of a structure or behavior. Any gene
and developmental mechanisms of behavior that is consistently associated with
and experience. reproductive success will become more
-also known as as "biopsychology," prevalent in later generations.
"psychobiology," "physiological psychology," - goosebumps (hair erection) makes a
and "behavioral neuroscience" frightened animal looks larger
-the goal is to relate issues of psychology. 4. FUNCTIONAL
-not only a field of study, but also a point of - describes why a structure or behavior
view. evolved as it did
-in this field, the way to understand behavior is - a camoufladged appearance makes an
in terms of how it evolved, and how the animal inconspicuous to predators thus
functioning of the brain and other organs aiding in its survival
control behavior. Biological explanations of behavior raise the
mind-brain problem: “What is the relationship
4 WAYS TO ANALYZED BIOLOGICAL between the mind and the brain?”
EXPLANATIONS OF BEHAVIOR
1. PHYSIOLOGICAL DUALISM
- relates the behavior to the activity of the -the belief that mind and body are different
brain and other organs. kinds of substances that exists independently
- acetylcholine and glutamate RENE DESCARTES
neurotransmitters facilitate one's efficiency proposed that mind and brain interact at a
of learning single point in space, which he suggested was
- a damage to a person's occipital lobe can the pineal gland, the smallest unpaired
cause visual problems structure found in the brain.
* the terms, parts and functions of the Nearly all current philosophers and
nervous system will be discussed in detail in scientists reject the idea of dualism because
the succeeding modules. because it conflicts with the law of conservation
2. ONTOGENETIC of matter and energy: matter can transform into
- explains how a structure or behavior energy or energy into matter, but neither one
develops, including the influences of genes, appears out of nothing, or disappears into
nutrition, experiences & their interactions nothing.
- a child's language development progresses Because matter alters its course only
slowly from uttering sounds (coos), syllables when matter or energy acts upon it, a mind that
(babbles) to producing single word is not composed of matter or energy could not
utterance, two to three wors phrases and make anything happen.
eventually complete sentences.
- nature and nurture interacts on how MONISM
certain characteristics such as intelligence -in contrast, is the belief that the universe
and personality develops consists of only one kind of substance.
3. EVOLUTIONARY Various forms of monism are possible and
grouped into the following categories:
 to determine contributions of heredity and
Materialism - everything that exists is environment, as well as on adopted children.
material or physical. All psychological Biochemical methods have identified certain
experiences can be explained in purely physical genes to be linked to conditions / behaviors
terms including loneliness, neuroticism, TV watching,
Mentalism - the view that only the mind and social attitudes.
really exists and that the physical world could Heredity and Environment
not exists unless some mind were aware of it
Identity Position - the view that mental Heredity vs. prenatal influences
processes and certain kinds of brain activities Biological children of parents with criminal
are the same thing. “Every mental experience is records are likely to have similar problems even
a brain activity” or “mental activity is what when they are adopted by excellent parents.
happens in the brain” The biological parents gave them their genes
and also their prenatal environment (poor diets,
Can we be sure monism is correct? No. poor medical care, smoked, drank or used
But it is the most reasonable working drugs)
hypothesis. Genes can also influence behavior indirectly by
Stimulation of any brain area provokes an changing your environment (multiplier effect,
experience. Dickens & Flynn, 2001) CITE EXAMPLE
One cannot have a mental activity without The gene itself does not cause a condition,
a brain activity. rather it produces a protein that under certain
The hard problem is why the mind exists circumstances increases the probability of the
at all in a physical world: "Why is there such a condition.
thing as consciousness, and how does it relate There are certain genes that control brain
to brain activity? chemicals
Genes also effect behavior indirectly, by
According. to the identity position: brain changing the way others in the environment
activity does not cause consciousness any more treat you. For example, people deemed as
than consciousness causes brain activity. attractive are more confident because of their
The Genetics of Behavior past positive experiences with social
relationships.
A gene is defined as a portion of a chromosome, The Evolution of Behavior
which is composed of a double stranded
molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) Evolution is a change over generations in the
Every behavior requires both heredity and frequencies of various genes in a population. It
environment. Take away either one, and includes any change in gene frequency
nothing is possible. regardless of whether it helps / harms species in
Do the observed differences among individuals the long run.
depend more on differences in heredity or Any gene that is consistently associated with
differences in environment? reproductive success will become more
Many researchers utilized monozygotic prevalent in later generations.
(identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twin studies
Artificial selection - a technique used by
breeders when they choose individuals with
desired traits and makes them parents of next
generation
Natural selection (Darwin, 1859): individuals
more successful than others in finidng food,
escaping enemies, attracting mates, protecting
their offspring, then their genes will become
more prevalent in later generations
Evolutionary Psychology deals with how
behaviors have evolved, especially social
behaviors
Is there a gene for altruistic behavior?
Among non-humans, altruism toward non-
relatives is rare in most species. (Eg.
chimpanzees, crows)
Altruisitic groups survive better than less
cooperative ones (Bowles,2006)
Reciprocal altruism - individuals help those who
will return the favor (or extend help to others)
Kin selection - in both humans and non-humans
altruistic behavior is more common towards
relatives than toward unrelated individual
In SUM,

Biological Explanations of behavior can be: