PSY/340 Biological Psychology Worksheet
University of Phoenix Material
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 the study in which we try to understand the processes of the mind and its mental processes. This field gives a clearer understanding of why you are the way you are.
2. What is the historical development of biological psychology?
The history of biological psychology is a major part of the history of modern scientific psychology. The study of biological psychology can be dated back to Avicenna a physician who in The Canon of Medicine, recognized physiological psychology in the treatment of illnesses involving emotions, and developed a system for associating changes in the pulse rate with inner feelings, which is seen as an anticipation of the word association test. Avicenna also gave psychological explanations for certain somatic illnesses, and he always linked the physical and psychological illnesses together. He explained that "humidity" inside the head can contribute to mood disorders, and he recognized that this occurs when the amount of "breath" changes: Happiness increases the breath, which leads to increased moisture inside the brain, but if this moisture goes beyond its limits, the brain would lose control over its rationality and lead to mental disorders.
3. Name one to three important theorists associated with biological psychology.
The first notable theorist after Aristotle was Rene’ Descartes who held the belief that the flow of animal spirits caused behaviors. He held a mechanistic view arrived at because of the statues of St. Germaine. Descartes thought humans followed the same pattern as the statues with water flowing through tubes, representing nerves and the fluid that result in muscle stimulation (Millis, n.d.). In 1664 Thomas Willis published Anatomy of the Brain. The publication viewed the brain’s structures as
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 the study in which we try to understand the processes of the mind and its mental processes. This field gives a clearer understanding of why you are the way you are.
2. What is the historical development of biological psychology?
The history of biological psychology is a major part of the history of modern scientific psychology. The study of biological psychology can be dated back to Avicenna a physician who in The Canon of Medicine, recognized physiological psychology in the treatment of illnesses involving emotions, and developed a system for associating changes in the pulse rate with inner feelings, which is seen as an anticipation of the word association test. Avicenna also gave psychological explanations for certain somatic illnesses, and he always linked the physical and psychological illnesses together. He explained that "humidity" inside the head can contribute to mood disorders, and he recognized that this occurs when the amount of "breath" changes: Happiness increases the breath, which leads to increased moisture inside the brain, but if this moisture goes beyond its limits, the brain would lose control over its rationality and lead to mental disorders.
3. Name one to three important theorists associated with biological psychology.
The first notable theorist after Aristotle was Rene’ Descartes who held the belief that the flow of animal spirits caused behaviors. He held a mechanistic view arrived at because of the statues of St. Germaine. Descartes thought humans followed the same pattern as the statues with water flowing through tubes, representing nerves and the fluid that result in muscle stimulation (Millis, n.d.). In 1664 Thomas Willis published Anatomy of the Brain. The publication viewed the brain’s structures as
References: (2006). The internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/aristotl.htm Biomedicine, (2008). Biological Psychology. Biomedicine.org. Retrieved from http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology-definition/Biological_psychology/ Biopsychology. (2008). In (Ed.), Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 17, 2008, from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761595625_2/Biopsychology.html#howtocite Ertel, S. (2004). Interdisciplinary psychology with Suitbert Ertel. Retrieved December 21, 2008, from http://www.psych.uni-goettingen.de/home/ertel/ertel-dir/myinterests/1psychology/01a62c92a20d0ec0d.html Millis, K. (n.d.). A short history of neuropsychology. Retrieved December 19, 2008, from http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2002/neuro.htm Wickens, A. (2005). Foundations of Biopsychology (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.