College of Social
Science
Biological Foundations of
Psychology
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Week One: Introduction to Biological
Psychology
• Describe the relationship among biopsychology
and other neuroscience disciplines
• Identify the major structures of the nervous
system (central and peripheral).
• Identify the role of genetics in brain development
and subsequently, behavior.
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Origin of Biopsychology
• The marriage of Psychology and Neuroscience
– Psychology—scientific study of behavior
(both human and animal)
– Neuroscience—scientific study of the brain
(both human and animal)
– Biopsychology—scientific study of the biology of
behavior
(both human and animal)
– Emerged as a distinct area in psychology near the
end of the 1800s;
– Hebb’s, The Organization of Behavior (1949) a
major factor in the development of biopsychology
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Charles Darwin 1809-1882
A young Charles Darwin
Darwin in later years
Darwin’s Delay
• Darwin outlined his theory
of evolution in the early
1840’s.
He did not publish it until
almost 20 years later.
-Health reasons
-Concern about reaction from
peers
Wanted to make sure it was
scientifically sound
What is Biopsychology?
• Focuses on the relationship between the brain
and behavior
• Biopsychologists study how the brain & nervous
system determines what we perceive, feel, think,
say, & do
• Biopsychologists use empirical evidence and
critical thinking to study, evaluate, record, and
report on the biological basis of behavior.
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Biopsychology Research Techniques
• Research techniques include
– Experimentation: seek to show cause and effect.
– TRUE experimental studies: control of subjects’ exposure
to test parameters
– Quasi-experimentation: subjects have real world exposure
– Case Studies: focus on a...