The biology of psychology and the psychology of biology

Biopsychology

What is the overall point of the chapter?

The overall point of the chapter is that human psychology is a function of many complex interrelationships between the physiology of the brain and related systems (i.e. The endocrine system) and elements of conscious perception. Human perception and behavior comprises both "hardwired" biological components and "software" components in the form of conditioning. Neither physiology alone nor environmental conditioning alone explains or controls all human behavior. Both aspects of behavior contribute to behavior and perception simultaneously throughout our lives. The physiological processes that are responsible for perception and behavior are features of human evolutionary anatomy and they represent genetic influences in the same way that other aspects of human behavior (i.e. physical abilities, etc.) also depend on physical traits and on conditioning. Biology may set certain limits and establish certain predispositions but experiential conditioning is equally important.

2. What are 3 core concepts presented in the chapter? Describe, explain, and justify how and why these are core concepts.

1. The human mind is neither fully attributable to physiological mechanisms nor to abstractions that have no tie to physiology: the human mind represents both. All of us share the same physiology but there are aspects of mind that cannot be explained fully strictly by biology or physiology. 2. The biology of perception is highly influenced by external experiences, especially during critical developmental periods. Fundamental neurological processes (such as the manner in which synapses transmit sensation and the effect of various neurotransmitters on behavior) are the same in all human beings. However, conditioning substantially changes the conditions under which some of those processes operate. Conditioned stress is a perfect example. 3. Social context is critical to the development of the human mind. All of share the same physiological processes (such as how we react to fear), but social learning and development condition us to associate totally different stimuli with those processes.

3. Each chapter has examples from other societies that relate to the chapter content. Choose one of these examples and identify that group's biological and cultural conceptions of human health as it relates to that chapter. DISCUSS HOW THE EXAMPLE DEMONSTRATES POINTS IN THE BOOK.

In Punata, the nature of the cultural environment predisposes women to various detrimental consequences of social oppression and shame. There is evidence suggesting there is a connection between these external social factors to which mothers (in particular) are exposed and some of the physical ailments suffered by their infants. In their culture, women are typically blamed for the poor health of their infants because it is believed that their emotional states cause those illnesses. In actuality, these conclusions are consistent with what we know about the complex roles of hormones, neurotransmitters, behavioral modeling, and the measurable consequences to human health of depression, anxiety, and fear. The characterization of "fault" is unfortunate, but the connection between the psychological state of the mother and her infant's health are substantially functions of physiological reality.