Biological Psychology Worksheet
Answer the following questions in short-essay format. Be prepared to discuss your answers.
1. What is biological psychology?
“Biological psychology is a branch of biology which attempts to integrate the effect of an individual’s anatomical and their genetic makeup on their personality traits” (Kalat, 2009). This study does not only included human being, but also the study of animals that have similar behavioral components when the animal is put into a similar physiological situation. “Biological psychology tends to establish the linking of nerves, neurotransmitters and other mandatory life processes in the overall normal in addition to abnormal behavior of animals” (Kalat, 2009).
2. What is the historical development of biological psychology?
The first event in the field of biology psychology was done by a Persian psychologist that identified that he could treat emotional problems after developing a system which changed the pulse rate of the inner feelings. He also discovered in this field that established that increased humidity in the cranium led to complex systems and patterns of different moods. The breathing rate of an individual also contributed to the changes of moods such that happiness is brought by increased breathing and reduced breathing leads to high levels of irritation (Breedlove, Rosenzweig and Watson, 2007).
3. Name one to three important theorists associated with biological psychology.
1) Rene Descartes 2) Charles Bell 3) William Harvey
In the 19th century, a philosopher by the name Rene Descartes established that the pineal gland in the brain is strategically located such that it binds the body and mind caused the disruption of normal flow of hormones that affected the person’s personality. Further studies in the field were largely physiological especially after scientists such as Charles Bell and William Harvey established that the only