Theoretical Perspectives to Explain Biological Behavior - Research Paper Example

? Theoretical Perspectives to Explain Biological Behavior Psychology is the science that create an understanding towards a logical thinking, ability to keep humane in concise. Psychology encompasses a broad spectrum of characteristics as it is solely the study of mind. As the finger print of no two individuals on the planet are alike so do the psychology of the individuals. Thus, psychology encompasses discernment, cognition, feelings, deeds and actions that are carried out by any individual. It is a study of and about human beings that individuals have been discussing since ages. The present article provides an understanding about the theoretical perspectives to explain biological behavior as there are numerous ways of thinking about human behavior and it is imperative to understand how people think, behave and feel. The three theoretical perspectives discussed involves evolutionary psychology, behavioral genetics, and behavioral neuroscience. The discussion of biological perspectives are important as the researchers study physiology which plays a vital role in the psychological development of an individual and therefore this perspective is known as the biological psychology or biopsychology or physiological psychology. Biological psychology is related to the biological and physical behavior of the person. As biology is directly related with the genetics of the individual, therefore, biological perspectives involve behavioral genetics in understanding the psychology. Physiology of the body, the brain, the nervous system, the immune system, the genetics, the endocrine system are inter-related and is taken care by the biological psychologists. The biological perspective has progressed significantly over the years due to advances in the medical science, augmentation in understanding for human brain as well as nervous system. Inventions and advancement in the instruments such as MRI and PET scans which facilitates the deeper study and to understand the effects of drugs, accidental damage, diseases influencing brain and altering the psychology of the individual. Evolutionary Psychology "Evolutionary psychology is a theoretical approach to psychology that attempts to explain useful mental and psychological traits such as memory, perception or language as adaptations i.e. as the functional products of natural selection" (Web. Evolutionary Psychology, n.d.). Such an approach is useful for functional way of thinking about the biological physiology and mechanisms of the body including the immune system. Thus, evolutionary psychology deals with the basis of human behavior and how evolution has bring a change or has shaped the behavior of humans and their mind. As nervous system is present in many of the living organisms, evolutionary psychology deals with humans and considers brain to comprise of numerous functional mechanisms which are called as psychological adaptations or progressive or evolved cognitive mechanisms which became the part of evolution because of the process of natural selection such as language acquisition. Thus, evolutionary psychology also involves behavioral genetics and behavioral neuroscience (Web. Evolutionary Psychology, 2007). Behavioral Genetics Behavioral genetics involves the study of genetics and environmental impacts on behaviors. An understanding for genetic influence, paves the way for gleaning the influence of environment on the behavior. Approximately all behavior and actions are studied by psychologists which are influenced by the genetic makeup of the organism which implies that genes play a vital role in behavior of the organism. It is established that nature of the individual directly portrays the nurture of the individual. A thorough understanding of the pedigree implicates the influence of genes on the behavior of the person. Some of the trends and behavior patterns persists in the families generation after generation displaying the role genes play in deciphering the nature of the individual. However, it needs to be elucidated which genes are responsible for the particular character and how do genes and environment work in co-ordination to influence behaviors (DiLalla, 2011). Behaviour of an individual reveals an understanding of a person about his/ her surroundings, the space, the universe, the planet, the society. Psychology attempts to explain the basic and vital objective of all aspects of life and all the fields of science taken together. It explains personality, growth, improvement, impulsion and impetus of an individual to march ahead. Explanation are controlled by way of culture and tradition the geographical area is displaying, as cultural disposition of any area varies from place to place throughout the planet and hence the psychology of the inhabitants is greatly influence by these variations. The culture and traditions are responsible for the appropriate grooming of the individual and hence influence the outlook of the human beings residing in that particular area. Explanation does encompass qualitative and quantitative experiments and protocols that are required to be followed when undertaking a psychotherapy. Modifications in behaviour or any kind of alterations could result in possibilities of improvements in the activities of an individual or it may result in some unexpected behaviour which is not accepted or is unhealthy. These alterations are always done under moral and ethical limitations. Psychology challenge to voluntarily persuade persons and crowds to transform activities for enduring strong achievements and success. Individuality and expansion conjecture diverge on the ways to persuade activities transformation. It is essential to have a repetitive imposition of positive thoughts and beliefs from time to time to keep an individual in the state of altered state of mind and to distract an individual from the negative influences. Thus psychology finds its ways in the field of education, communal modifications and managerial constitutions to extract favored activities and approaches. Behavioral Neuroscience Behavioral Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and deals with how nervous system mediates the behavior of the person encompassing motivation, learning, perception, memory, attention as well as motor performance (Web. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, n.d.). The vital areas of behavioral neuroscience deals with an understanding for various aspects such as communication audition as well as biological rhythms. Behaviour of any individual are attained through habituation and training. As the child grows from infant to a childhood stage, a child starts grasping the immediate surroundings, the affection and attention that s/he gains from every member in the vicinity. In these formative years, behaviour and the social interaction with the society paves the way for grooming the personality of the child. It is essential that alterations be made in the behaviour when unhealthy attitude is observed. In some grave cases repeated motivation to change the behaviour is required which may or may not be related to therapeutic issues. Behavioral neuroscience involves a deep insight to the internal state of mind. This is related to the motivation which is essential for persuasion of everyday tasks. It encompasses the ability to deal with the issues or problems that an individual encounters to meet everyday pursuits. The solution to the problem depends upon the logical and rationale thinking, the ability to reach to the conclusion, the ability to think in a constructive and innovative manner and how appropriate that decision is to make positive modifications. This is essential in industrial scenario where the cognitive ability is imperative in taking an organization to its highest position or if any illogical or irrelevant venture is made it may result in unfavorable situations. References Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. n.d. Retrieved from http://www.psychology.ucsd.edu/research-areas/cognitive-behavior-neuroscience.html. DiLalla, L. (2011). Behavioral Genetics. Retrieved from http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/obo/9780199828340-0010. Evolutionary Psychology. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/e/evolutionary_psychology.htm. Read More