Biological Psychology free essay sample

The brain is a complex organ that is composed of many even more complex systems. Several theorists and psychologists focus on these systems and the functions of the brain. Scientists are also among those who take an interest in the functions of the brain. Each group digs deeper into researching biological psychology because they are learning more about the history of the field, the theorists that have contributed to the understanding, and relationships to other areas of psychology. This paper will discuss biological psychology and its history along with the theorists that have helped uncover many mysteries of the brain. It will also discuss the relationship of biological psychology and other fields of psychology and the underlying assumptions of biological psychology. What is it that controls the mind? What makes people do certain things? Why do different people react to things differently? Is there a link between the body and the mind? These questions were just some of the reasons that psychologists and scientists began to develop what is now known as biological psychology. We will write a custom essay sample on Biological Psychology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is where science and psychology come together to understand and explain the brain, its complexities and how behavior is linked to the mind. Biological psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes (New World Encyclopedia). Biological psychology explained by the Encyclopedia Britannica is focused on â€Å"the function of the brain and the rest of the nervous system in activities (e. g. , thinking, learning, feeling, sensing, and perceiving) recognized as characteristic of humans and other animals. † Many of the earlier theorists had much to explore when trying to determine how the mind and behavior are related. Biological psychology dates back as far as 980 C. E. with the book The Canon of Medicine by Avicenna. In this book, he discussed the relationship between physical and psychological illnesses. He believed that the humidity in the brain could be linked to some mental disorders or illnesses and that the amount of air inhaled could affect this (New World Encyclopedia). Another theorist from the 1890s that is well known is William James. James wrote the book The principles of Psychology in which he explains his views on biology and psychology (New World Encyclopedia). James book was among the first to explain the newest views in biological psychology. A third theorist that explored biological psychology was Rene Descartes (1596-1650). Descartes was famous for his research and views on the mind and body questions. He helped people to understand a new way of thinking when it came to behavior and the mind. An example he used to explain his theories showed people that when a person touched something that was hot, they automatically pulled their hand away (Wickens, 2005). Descartes research and views explain how a reaction, even an involuntary reaction, can be linked to the mind. The nerves in the hand sense a message that something is hot and then that message is carried to the brain where another message is sent back to the hand that makes the hand pull away from the hot object. Over time, the study of the brain has had many different names that have tried to explain what it is they are studying or what the theories are. For example, the study of the brain was considered physiological psychology for some time because of the way scientists researched parts of the brain. They would examine people who had either lost part of their brain in an accident or suffered brain damage of some kind and learn about their chemical and electrical stimulations (wickens, 2005). Biological psychology is also related to philosophy, neuroanatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, and endocrinology because of the relevancy of the information learned about the brain in each area. Although it is not necessary for each area to focus on the same thing, they all have something in common and that is the interest in the brain and its functions. Biological psychology studies the mind and the behavior of humans and some animals. The main underlying assumption of biological psychology is that human behavior is directly related to the mind. There have been many theorists, psychologists, and scientists involved in learning new information about the brain. Since the first theory of how the brain relates to the body, theorists have developed a clearer image of that theory. In the future, this information will continue to gow and we will continue to learn. The more we learn about the brain the more we are learning about behavior and many other parts of human life.