What is Biological Psychology? - Chapter 0

What is the biological approach on behaviour?

There are many questions about the relationship between physics and psychology, but also about our existence. Questions that cover this subject are ‘Why is there something instead of nothing?’ and ‘How did the universe develop?’.

The field of Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology is the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behaviour and experience. Biological psychology tries to find a link between the build-up of the brain and the behaviour an organism shows. It’s not only a research field, but also a certain position. We behave because of certain brain mechanisms, which we have developed because previous animals have survived with these mechanisms and produced better than animals with other mechanisms. In order to make a connection between brains and behaviour, we need to know more about the different areas of the brain.

Three important things you have to remember from this book

The writers of this book want you to remember three things:

• Perception happens in the brains. When something touches your hand, your hand will send a signal to the brain. You will feel it in your brain, not in your hand.
• Mental activity and certain types of brain activity are inseparable. This is called monism (the universe exists out of one type of material). The opposite of this is dualism (the brain exists out of one type of substance and matter is something else). Most scientists and neuroscientists support monism.
• You have to be careful in reporting what is an explanation and what isn’t. Research has shown that some parts of the brain are less active in depressive people. However, this doesn’t mean that less active parts of the brain cause depression. We need to know more before concluding something.

What are biological explanations of behaviour?

There are four categories of biological explanations of behaviour:

• The Physiological explanation focuses on the brain and other anatomical structures.
• The Ontogenetic explanation focuses on the development of structures and behaviour.
• The Evolutionary explanation focuses on the evolutionary history of structures and behaviour.
• The Functional explanation focuses on the functions of structures and behaviour and why they develop.

Why are animals used as test subjects in research?

There are several reasons why animals are used as test subjects instead of humans:

• It is unethical to conduct certain studies using humans.
• Through the study of animals, we gain knowledge about human evolution.
• Animals are interesting in themselves.
• Animals are similar to humans in many ways, and often it is easier to use animals.

Rate of opposition

Animal research will be a part of neuroscientific research in the future. Most of the researchers claim that a little harm should be tolerated for the sake of greater good. Without animal research many serious diseases might remain uncured. However, there are also alternatives to animal testing. People against animal research hold different kind of positions. Minimalists think that animal research should be firmly restricted. Justification depends on the expected value of the research, the level of harm to the animal, and the type of animal. Abolitionists think that all animals are equal to humans, so animal testing is never justifiable. The legal standard consists of the ‘three R’s’:

• Reduction of the number of animals that is used for research.
• Replacement, in other words the use of substitutes (e.g. computer models) for animals whenever possible.
• Refinement, in other words reducing pain and discomfort as much as possible.

Universities and other institutions have committees to control animal testing.