I.

Title of Report: Biological Perspective

II. Founder(s)

Charles Darwin first introduced the idea that evolution and genetics play a role in
human behavior.

III. Historical Development

a. Origin (How/Why/When/Where)

→ The Location of the Mind

• Galen (130 – 200 AD)
o Ancient Egyptian, Indian and Chinese cultures
believed the heart to be the source of thoughts and
emotions as did Aristotle.
o Galen proposed that mental activities originated in the
ventricles of the brain.
o This became the accepted view of the Christian
church until the 14th century.
• Descartes (1596 – 1650)
o Descartes was a dualist – proposed a hydraulic model
of the nervous system controlled by pineal gland.
o Disproved by Galvani, who demonstrated that even a
muscle and motor nerve were removed from frog, it still
twitched in response to electrical stimulation.
o Eminent philosopher Rene Descartes propounded the
physical model for explaining the behavior of animals
and humans.
o Descartes was also responsible for introducing the
concept of reflexes which led to muscle responses,
though this was later denied by the researchers with an
argument that spinal cord is responsible for muscular
responses.
→ Localization of Function
• The idea that specific functions are located in particular
places in nervous system.
o Phrenology – assumes that mental functions are
localized in certain brain areas and that mental
functioning is related to the size and integrity of the
brain.
→ Localization of Function – Evolution
• Charles Darwin’s (1859) The Origin of Species posits the idea
that evolution occurs by means of natural selection.
• Changed the current view that animals had no mind (or soul),
opening the door for the idea that research on animals could
generate knowledge relevant for humans.
 • This theory of Darwin lead to the founding of comparative
psychology by George John Romanes.
→ Phineas Gage (1848)
• Explosion sent a tamping rod through his left cheek and out
the top of his head.
→ Damasio (1994)
• Confirmed the location of the damage was in the prefrontal
cortex, which controls the ability to make rational decisions
and processes emotional information.
→ Karl Lashley – Mass Action and Equipotentiality
• Searched for the physical location of specific memory.
• Engram – a memory trace or the physical location of specific
memories.
• Developed the concepts of:
o Mass action – the greater the brain area destroyed,
the more severe impact on learning.
o Equipotentiality – any part of a functional area can
carry out the function of that area.
→ Biopsychology as a specialized discipline gained its importance
during 18th and 19th centuries.
→ William James in his works “The Principles of Psychology”, 1890, tried
to highlight that the study of psychology should be aligned with an
understanding of the biological parameters.
→ Knight Dunlap first coined the term “psychobiology” in his work “An
Outline of Psychobiology” in 1914.

Theories Leading to the Development of Biological Perspective

There are four main theories which contributed to the development of the
biological perspective of psychology.

1. Dualism:

• A theory developed by Descartes.

• He determined that although the body and mind are separate, they do
interact through the brain's pineal gland.
• This theory has been disregarded by many psychologists.

2. Materialism:

• This theory assumes a physical aspect to all behavior.

• It is based on animal and human genetics studies suggesting genes
evolved over long periods of time.
 3. Heredity:

• This theory assumes that behavioral traits result from the passing on of
characteristics through gene transfer from one generation to the next.

4. Natural Selection:

• This theory was developed by Charles Darwin who proposed the idea
that random variations in organisms led to better reproductive success
ensuring the passing on of these traits to subsequent generations.

b. Important Events

→ The Voyage of the Beagle (1805 - 1836) - Darwin formulated his

theory of natural selection through observing animals while traveling
the world.
→ Harlow (1848): Phineas Gage brain injury case study provides
neuroscience with significant information regarding the working of
the brain.
→ Darwin (1859) publishes "On the Origin of Species by Means of
Natural Selection." 1,250 copies were printed, most of which sold the
first day.
→ Jane Goodall (1957) began her study of primates in Africa,
discovering that chimps have behaviors similar to all the human
cultures on the planet.
→ Edward Wilson (1975) published his book, "Sociobiology" which
brought together evolutionary perspective to the psychology.
→ The birth of Evolutionary Psychology begins with the publication of
an essay "The Psychological Foundations of Culture" by Tooby and
Cosmides (1992).

c. Major Proponents
▪ Charles Darwin
▪ Rene Descartes
▪ William James
▪ Knight Dunlap

IV. Major Concepts

a. Terms and their Definition

▪ Biological Approach – combines psychology and biology to provide
physiological explanations for human behavior.
▪ Biological Psychology – tries to explain how we think, feel and
behave in terms of physical factors within the body.
▪ Physiology – the study of the body and its parts and how they
function.
▪ Genes – the basic units of heredity.
 ▪ Genotype – genes only determine the potential for characteristics.
▪ Evolution – the changes in inherited characteristics in a biological
population over successive generations.
▪ Phenotype – the observable characteristic of an individual depend
on the interaction of the genetic and environmental factors.

b. Belief About Human Beings

→ Everything psychological is at first biological.

→ The approach investigates how biological structures and processes
within the body impacts on behavior.
→ Much of human behavior has a physiological cause which may be
genetically or environmentally altered.
→ Genes affect behavior and influence individual psychological
differences between people. Evolutionary psychology considers
genetic influences in common behaviors.
→ Psychologist should study the brain, nervous system and other
biological systems (e.g. hormones, chemicals acting on brain).
→ The mind lives in the brain (in contrast to the cognitive approach
sees mental process of the mind as being separate from the physical
brain).

Genetic basis of behavior

→ Psychologist are interested in trying to determine and provide

evidence for the extent to which behaviors, or characteristic such as
intelligence are the product of inheritance (genes) or environmental
influences.

Methods of investigating the genetic basis of behavior

→ There are different methods for investigating the extent to which

psychological characteristics are affected by inheritance from
parents and evolution genetic basis of behavior:
o Twin Studies
o Family Studies
o Adoption Studies
o Selective Breeding
c. Focus

A biological perspective is relevant to the study of psychology in three

ways:

1. Comparative method: different species of animal can be studied and

compared. This can help in the search to understand human behavior.
 2. Physiology: how the nervous system and hormones work, how the brain
functions, how changes in structure and/or function can affect behavior.
For example, we could ask how prescribed drugs to treat depression affect
behavior through their interaction with the nervous system.

→ Analyzing how trauma to the brain influences behaviors

→ Exploring how genetic factors influence such things as aggression
→ Investigating how degenerative brain diseases impact how people
act
→ Studying how genetics and brain damage are linked to mental
disorders

3. Investigation of inheritance: what an animal inherits from its parents,

mechanisms of inheritance (genetics). For example, we might want to
know whether high intelligence is inherited from one generation to the next.

→ Assessing the differences and similarities in twins to determine which

characteristics are tied to genetics and which are linked to
environmental influences

d. Techniques Used

The Ablation of Neural Tissue

Ablation (lesioning) – the experimental destruction of neurons or the

surgical removal of a part of the brain which may suggest the functioning
of a brain area.

Stereotaxic apparatus – a surgical instrument that allows a neuroscientist to

create a lesion in a specific region of the brain.

Neurosurgery

Surgical procedures performed on the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral

nerves for the purpose of restoring functioning or preventing further
impairment. It is also a discipline that is concerned with the diagnosis and
treatment of nervous system disorders.

Recording Nervous System Activity

Electroencephalograms (EEGs)

This is a way of recording the electrical activity of the brain (it doesn’t hurt,
and it isn’t dangerous). Electrodes are attached to the scalp and brain
waves can be traced.
 EEGs have been used to study sleep, and it has been found that during a
typical night’s sleep, we go through a series of stages marked by different
patterns of brain wave.

Static Images of the Nervous System

Brain Scans

More recently methods of studying the brain have been developed using
various types of scanning equipment hooked up to powerful computers.

The CT or CAT scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) is a moving X-ray

beam which takes “pictures” from different angles around the head and
can be used to build up a 3-dimensional image of which areas of the brain
are damaged.

Even more sophisticated is the PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography)

which uses a radioactive marker as a way of studying the brain at work.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – technique that produces a static

image of the brain by passing a strong magnetic field through the brain,
followed by a radio wave, then measuring the radiation emitted from
hydrogen atoms; provides a 3D view of the brain.

The procedure is based on the principle that the brain requires energy to
function and that the regions more involved in the performance of a task
will use up more energy. What the scan, therefore, enables researchers to
do is to provide ongoing pictures of the brain as it engages in mental
activity.

Measuring Chemical Activity

Autoradiography – the injection of radioactive chemicals into the

bloodstream and subsequent analysis of neural tissue to determine where
a specific chemical is found in the nervous system.

Micro dialysis – a technique for identifying the neurotransmitter in a specific

area of the nervous system by measuring the chemical constituents of fluid
from neural tissue.

e. Strengths
→ It is a scientific approach. This suggest that we can find cause and
effect relationships of both physiology and behavior.
→ Scientific approach lends credence to study of psychology –
establishes psychology as a respectable science.
→ Impact of biology on behavior can lead to treatment and
intervention to those suffering.
 → Understanding how an abnormal brain works can shed light on
normal brain functioning.
→ Measurements can be objective as it can be performed by
machines which have no vested interest in outcome (e.g. PET scans,
EEGs etc.) Use of complex machinery allows accurate and precise
measurements.

f. Criticisms
→ It is a deterministic approach as it believes that we are determined
by our physiological, genetic, or evolutionary make-up. Thus, stating
that there is no free will.
→ This approach is reductionist by stating that all human behavior can
be explained through biological processes and we are therefore not
unique as individuals. It is also dehumanizing to present humans as
“biological machines”.
→ Biological approach ignores the role of the environment. It should be
used in combination which is known as the biosocial approach.
→ Research may focus on rare conditions that have little impact on the
everyday lives of most people.
→ Complex machinery operated by humans and therefore
measurements could be subject to human error.
→ Correlations frequently employed – cannot determine cause and
effect.
→ Small or restricted samples makes finding difficult to generalize.
→ Laboratory experiments lack ecological validity.

V. Current Status/Uses
a. IQ
b. Gender Role
c. Relationships
d. Abnormal Psychology
e. Stress Response
f. Aggression
g. Biological Preparedness
h. Sleep
i. Schizophrenia

VI. References:

McLeod, S. A. (2017). Biological Psychology. Simply Psychology.

www.simplypsychology.org/biological-psychology.html

Jan, J. (2015). Bio Approach for 2015 Specification. Slide Share.

https://www.slideshare.net/Jjanpsychology/biological-approach-2015

Juneja, P. The Biological Perspective of Psychology (Biopsychology).

Management Study Guide.
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/biological-perspective-of-
biopsychology.htm

Cherry, K. (2012). What is the Biological Perspective? About.com Psychology.

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-biological-perspective-2794878

Copppens, T. (2022). What is the Biological Perspective? Owlcation.

https://owlcation.com/stem/What-Is-the-Biological-Perspective

Lee, J. (2019). An Introduction to Biological Psychology. Slide Player.

https://slideplayer.com/slide/14315951/