The Function of the Biological Perspective in the Field of Psychology
In psychology, there are various perspectives to examine psychological subjects. The biological approach involves exploring the physical foundation of human and animal behavior. This perspective is a significant one in psychology and includes researching the nervous system, brain, immune system, and genetics.
The debate between nature and nurture has been a major topic in psychology for a long time. The nurture side of the debate emphasizes the environment as the primary factor that influences behavior, while the biological perspective emphasizes the importance of nature.
The Biological Perspective
The branch of psychology that focuses on the physical basis of animal and human behavior is known as biopsychology or physiological psychology. It has seen significant growth in recent years and is closely linked with other scientific fields such as biology, neurology, and genetics. The biological perspective provides a way of understanding human problems and actions by examining physiological and biological processes.
The study of physiology and biology has been an essential part of psychology since its inception, with Charles Darwin introducing the concept of evolution and genetics in shaping human behavior. Natural selection plays a role in whether certain behavior patterns are passed on to future generations, with behaviors that aid in survival being more likely to be inherited.
Different psychological perspectives offer various ways of interpreting a complex issue like aggression. For example, the psychoanalytic perspective attributes aggression to early life experiences and unconscious urges, while the behavioral perspective focuses on how behavior is shaped by reinforcement and punishment. In contrast, the social perspective considers group dynamics and societal pressures that contribute to aggressive behavior.
In contrast, the biological perspective looks at the biological basis that underlies aggressive behavior. A biologically-minded psychologist might examine how certain types of brain injury could lead to aggressive behavior or investigate genetic factors that contribute to the display of aggressive behavior.
Main Topic Areas
The field of biopsychology involves examining how biological forces shape human behavior.
While many topics are shared with other psychological perspectives, biopsychologists are particularly interested in exploring the following areas: the effects of brain trauma on behavior, the interplay of genetics and environment in determining individual traits, the impact of genetics on aggression, the effects of degenerative brain diseases on behavior, and the relationship between genetics, brain damage, and mental disorders.
In recent years, advances in technology have contributed to the growth of biopsychology as a field. Modern tools such as PET and MRI scans have enabled scientists to study the impact of brain development, drugs, disease, and brain damage on behavior and cognitive functioning in greater detail.
Example of the Biological Perspective
The biological perspective in psychology examines how biological factors can shape human behavior.
One example is the study of how brain chemistry affects depression. Antidepressants alter neurotransmitter levels, which may help alleviate depression symptoms. However, the role of serotonin levels in depression has been challenged by some research, so further investigation is necessary to fully comprehend the effects of brain chemicals on depression symptoms.
Another instance of the biological perspective is the use of brain imaging to explore how the brain and nervous system impact human behavior.
The Biological Perspective of Personality
The study of personality from a biological perspective is an approach that examines how biological and genetic factors can provide insights into various aspects of psychology. It specifically concentrates on the biological elements that play a part in shaping personality differences.
According to this perspective, personality is affected by genetic and biological factors. For instance, temperament, which is a pattern that is influenced by biology and emerges in early life, is one way in which the biological perspective can be applied to comprehend human personality.
Strengths of the Biological Perspective
The biological perspective in psychology is characterized by a strong scientific approach, which relies on rigorous empirical methods to study psychological problems. This makes the results obtained by researchers using this perspective often practical and reliable. As a result of the research conducted from this perspective, effective treatments have been developed for various psychological disorders.
Weaknesses of the Biological Perspective
While the biological perspective in psychology provides a scientific approach to studying behavior, it has a weakness in its inability to consider the impact of other factors such as emotions, social pressures, environmental influences, childhood experiences, and cultural differences on psychological problems.
Therefore, it is important to recognize that this approach is not the only one and to incorporate other perspectives as well.
Utilizing a variety of perspectives can lead to different solutions and practical applications in addressing psychological issues.
Let’s recap
The study of human mind and behavior can be viewed from various perspectives, and one of them is the biological perspective.
By examining the biological foundations of human behavior, psychologists can gain a better understanding of how the brain and physiological processes may affect cognition, behavior, and emotions.
This approach also enables researchers to develop new interventions that target the biological factors that affect psychological health.
Sources
1. Beauchaine TP, Neuhaus E, Brenner SL, Gatzke-Kopp L. Ten good reasons to consider biological processes in prevention and intervention research. Dev Psychopathol. 2008;20(3):745-774. doi:10.1017/S0954579408000369
2. Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA. The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
Additional Reading
· Hockenbury, DH & Hockenbury SE. Discovering Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers; 2011.
· Pastorino, EE, Doyle-Portillo, SM. What Is Psychology? Foundations, Applications, and Integration. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning; 2015.