The Role of the Biological Perspective in Psychology

Do you ever wonder why some characteristics seem to run in families? Or why emotional heartbreak can feel so physically painful? The biological perspective in psychology can offer some answers to such questions.

There are many different ways of thinking about topics in psychology. The biological perspective looks at psychological issues by studying the physical basis for animal and human behavior. It is one of the major perspectives in psychology and involves studying the brain, immune system, nervous system, and genetics.

One of the primary debates in psychology has long centered on the relative contributions of nature versus nurture. Those who take up the nurture side of the debate suggest that the environment plays the most significant role in shaping behavior. The biological perspective, on the other hand, tends to stress the importance of nature.

The Biological Perspective in Psychology

Biological psychology is often called biopsychology, behavioral neuroscience, or physiological psychology. This branch of psychology has grown tremendously in recent years and is linked to other areas of science, including biology, neurology, and genetics.

The study of physiology and biological processes has played a significant role in psychology since its earliest beginnings. Charles Darwin first introduced the idea that evolution and genetics play a role in human behavior.

Consider an issue like aggression and how researchers might approach it from different perspectives:

• The psychoanalytic perspective might view aggression as the result of childhood experiences and unconscious urges.
• The behavioral perspective considers how the behavior was shaped by association, reinforcement, and punishment.
• A psychologist with a social perspective might look at the group dynamics and pressures that contribute to such behavior.

The biological viewpoint, on the other hand, would involve looking at the biological roots that lie behind aggressive behaviors. Someone who takes the biological perspective might consider how certain types of brain injury might lead to aggressive actions. Or they might consider genetic factors that can contribute to such displays of behavior.

Topics of Interest in the Biological Perspective

Biopsychologists study many of the same things that other psychologists do but are interested in looking at how biological forces shape human behaviors. Some topics that a psychologist might explore using this perspective include:

• Analyzing how trauma to the brain influences behaviors
• How stress contributes to the development of mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety
• Assessing the differences and similarities in twins to determine which characteristics are tied to genetics and which are linked to environmental influences
• Exploring how genetic factors influence such things as aggression
• Investigating how degenerative brain diseases impact how people act
• Studying how genetics and brain damage are linked to mental disorders

This perspective has grown considerably in recent years as the technology used to study the brain and nervous system has grown increasingly advanced.

Example of the Biological Perspective

An example of the biological perspective in psychology is the study of how brain chemistry may influence depression. Antidepressants affect these neurotransmitter levels, which may help alleviate depression symptoms.

However, research on biological psychology has also disputed the idea that serotonin levels are responsible for depression, so more research is needed in this area to better understand the impact of brain chemicals on depression symptoms.

Such techniques allow researchers to examine how the brain works in real-time. This allows them to better understand how different brain regions are associated with specific functions, such as memory formation, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

The Biological Perspective of Personality

The biological perspective of personality can also offer us a lot of insight into who we are. Using this POV, we can look at how biological and genetic factors might explain different aspects of our personalities.

Consider our temperaments—the early patterns of emotional and behavioral responses that we see even in babies. Researchers believe it is heavily influenced by genetics and helps establish the foundations for our adult personalities, aka the people we eventually become.

Using the biological perspective in psychology allows researchers to consider the reasons why some of us are bold and adventurous while others are more reserved and cautious.

Strengths of the Biological Perspective

Like other perspectives in psychology, the biological approach has its unique advantages.

• Empirical: One of the strengths of using the biological perspective to analyze psychological problems is that the approach is usually very scientific. Researchers utilize rigorous empirical methods, and their results are often reliable and practical. B
• Medical applications: Biological research has helped yield helpful treatments for various psychological disorders. Because this perspective stresses biological factors, it has helped lead to the development of medications that treat mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
• Underlying causes: The biological perspective has also helped us more fully understand the roots of many mental health conditions. Thanks to this way of examining the mind and behavior, we better recognize the factors that contribute to things like bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.
• Universality: While other perspectives examine environmental influences, including culture, the biological perspective examines shared biological processes that are universally applicable. Examples include the role of the fight or flight response in stress and dopamine’s role in motivation.

Potential Pitfalls of the Biological Perspective

While the biological perspective has several advantages, its important to remember that it’s not the only way of thinking about human problems. In some cases, using this approach can even lead to potential pitfalls.

For that reason, it is essential to remember that the biological approach is just one of the *many* different perspectives in psychology. By utilizing a variety of approaches to problems, researchers can develop solutions that can have helpful real-world applications.

Takeaways

There are many different perspectives from which to view the human mind and behavior and the biological perspective represents just one of these approaches.

By looking at the biological bases of human behavior, psychologists are better able to understand how the brain and physiological processes might influence the way people think, act, and feel. This perspective also allows researchers to come up with new treatments that target the biological influences on psychological well-being.