The Biological Approach - 1351 Words

The main assumption of the biological approach is behaviour and experiences can be explained by biological changes in the body. This approach focusses on the investigation of the brain, nervous system and other biological factors such as hormones; whereas the main assumption of the cognitive approach is that information received from our senses is processed by the brain and that this processing influences how we behave or at least justifies how we behave the way we do. Cognitive processes are examples of hypothetical constructs – researchers cannot directly observe processes such as thinking but we can infer what a person is thinking based on how they act (behavioural patterns). Some key researchers in the biological approach are Maguire et. Al (2000) - Navigation-related structural changes in the hippocampi of taxi drivers, and Sperry (1968) - Hemisphere disconnection and unity in consciousness. Some key researchers in the cognitive approach are Loftus and Palmer (1974) - eye witness testimony and Baron-Cohen (1997) – Autism. There are a few similarities between the two approaches, for example the biological approach likes to use variants of laboratory experiments from quasi (natural) to experiments in highly artificial settings. This is done so that the researchers can take advantage of the naturally occurring variables or can change them easily to suit the experiment and control any extraneous or confounding variables, and can therefore easily establish cause and effect.Show MoreRelatedThe Biological And Psychoanalytical Approach1489 Words   |  6 PagesBoth the biological and psychoanalytical approach have had a long history and still stand current today. Assumptions of the biological approach to psychology view men as a biological organism; everything, from what we think to what we do, has its basis in our physical structure (Carlson, 2004). Alternatively, the psychoanalytical approach heavily focuses on the â€Å"unconscious† and the role of internal processes in shaping personality and thus behaviour (Glassman Hadad, 2004). Fathered by Freud, theRead MoreThe Biological Basis Of Personality Approach1747 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will give a description of Personality before critically analysing the biological basis of personality approach. The biological basis approach tries to account for the mechanisms between genes and personality by looking at various different brain structures whilst the biochemical approach looks at the impact of hormones and neurotransmitters. The majority of our understanding of personality from a biological perspective focuses on the three main behavioural systems; the reward system, theRead MorePsychodynamic Vs. Biological Approach1569 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will begin by discussing the main assumptions of the cognitive, psychodynamic and biological approach to psychology. It will look at a study that supports each approach. In addition it will look at how the studies have been influential in psychology today. Finally it wil l include some of the different branches of psychology and why these are relevant to different health professionals. Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology which focuses on the brain and how we think, CognitiveRead MorePsychology : The Behaviourist Approach And The Biological2398 Words   |  10 Pagespsychology are the behaviourist approach and the biological (also known as physiological) approach. These perspectives consist of different theories, research methods and treatments in relation to mental illness. The behaviourist approach believes that people, as well as animals, are controlled by their surrounding environment which has a direct impact upon their behaviour and whether they would suffer from mental illness (McLeod, S. 2007). 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Psychologists who use the biological approach believe that mental processes and behaviors are caused and explained by activity between the nervous system and the brain. The biological approach is very scientific; therefore, psychologists can perform consistent, measureable experiments to examine how our genes, neuronal activity, and neurotransmitters interact with our environment and how they influenceRead MoreBiological vs Humanistic Approach to Personality1540 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: BIOLOGICAL VS HUMANISTIC APPROACH TO PERSONALITY Biological vs. Humanistic Approach to Personality Lawrence Sawyer University of Phoenix Biological vs. Humanistic Approach to Personality As several styles are used to define the personality, two are often used to subsidize another approach. Both biological and humanistic approaches are typically used as under tones. 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(12 marks) The biological approach focuses on both the physiological and evolutionary aspects which explain human behaviour. The causal level of analysis incorporates physiological explanations, such as the effect of nerves and hormones on behaviour. According to biological psychologists, behaviour is controlled by the nervous system, which consists of the central nervous system (the brain and theRead MoreBiological Psychology : The Brain And Nervous System Essay888 Words   |  4 Pages1. Biological psychology, of biopsychology, is the application of the principles of biology to the study of mental processes in terms of bodily mechanisms. The view that psychological processes have biological (or physiological) correlates, is the basic assumption of the whole field of biological psychology. Biological psychology is a hopeful domain, one that has much to offer in terms of improving the quality of life of the healthy as well as those suffering from disorders. It also contributed important