PSYCH212: PHYSIOLOGICAL/BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction to Psychology
Prof. Rainier Ladic
INTRODUCTION
All psychology is biological
Psychology will only stop when we’re dead but
biology won’t because of decomposition.
All a person does and thinks is a part of their
biology as they are also a biological organism
Biology can be chemical and physics, psychology is
best described in terms of cultural, social, and
cognitive influences.
Psychology is also best understood in terms of
genetics, evolution, hormones, body physiology,
and brain mechanisms.
In biological psychology, the focus will be on the
relationship of the brain and mind, roles of nature
and nurture, and ethics of research.
Study of physiological, evolutionary, and
developmental mechanisms of behavior and
experience.
Different people are different in terms of their
behavior and developments since they also have
different origins and nature of experiences.
3 MAIN POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Perception occurs in your brain
sensation is meaningless without perception
It is biological since our senses are all biological
structures.
Example: when you touch something hot or
cold, you will feel it in your brain "it is the brain
that feels it", only the brain transmits the
signal to your skin using your nerves.
People with visual agnosia will see the subject
but they will not be able to recognize it
because there is a distortion occurring.
Meaning brain is the one that recognizes what
we see and feel around us.
2.Monism and Dualism
In biopsych, we uphold the idea of monism and
the mind and body connects with each other
because they cannot function on its own so
they need each other to work and function.
Meaning they act as one.
People with depressive activity, they cannot
move properly or low-leg activity. But it
doesn't mean that the person has depression
when there is low-leg activity.
If we really want to be firm with our
conclusion, we should not just base on one
observation.
Anhedonia, term for when a person
experiences loss of pleasure. Having a clinical
depression or even anhedonia experiences lack
of happiness.
3. Being cautious about what an explanation is
and what is not.
MIND-BRAIN OR MIND-BODY
The question is: If the universe is composed of
matter and energy, why is there such a thing as
consciousness?
A person can think and imagine of ways as to how
molecules were formed, and about the different
primitive types of life but there is also the
presence of brain activity conscious.
Consciousness is something we experience, and it
calls for an explanation, even if we do not yet see
how to explain it (Churchland, 1986; Dennett,
1991).
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The study of the physiological, evolutionary, and
developmental mechanisms of behavior and
experience.
Synonymous with the terms biopsychology,
psychobiology physiological psychology, and
behavioral neuroscience.
It emphasizes that the goal is to relate biology to
issues of psychology
Biopsych is a field study and a point of view
Biopsych holds that we think and act as we do
because of our brain mechanisms.
Biological Psychology deals mostly with brain
activity
 Perception occurs in your brain.
 Mental activity and certain types of brain activity
are inseparable
PSYCH212: PHYSIOLOGICAL/BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction to Psychology
Prof. Rainier Ladic
 The study of the physiological, evolutionary, and
developmental mechanisms of behavior and
experience.
 It refers to intentional goals such as “He/She did
this because he was trying to…”
 A physiological explanation relates a behavior to
the activity of the brain and other organs. It deals
with the machinery of the body—for example, the
chemical reactions that enable hormones to
influence brain activity and the routes by which
brain activity controls muscle contractions.
 Euphoria, an unhealthy type of happiness because
of too much, they become impulsive and risky
behaviors, their behavior is all out.
 Euthymia, a healthy and ideal way or manner of
happiness.
BIPOLAR DISORDERS
Bipolar Disorder 1 – manic, seeing or hearing things
that others cannot see. They are hospitalized
because their behaviors are excessive because of
excessive energies.
Bipolar Disorder 2 –hypomania, it is less severe, he
is less intensive in the manic episode of Bipolar 1.
Mania episodes lasts in 2 weeks. In hypomania,
episodes lasts in 4 days.
Schizophrenic, overdose of dopamine.
BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF BEHAVIOR
ONTOGENETIC – Greek word meaning the origin
(genesis) of being.
ONTOGENETIC EXPLANATION – describes how a
structure or behavior develops including the
influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and
their interactions.
The human brain structure shrinks due to
trauma which results brain malfunction in the
hippocampus that causes memory loss.
EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATION – reconstructs the
evolutionary history of a structure or behavior.
 Example: The giraffe's neck got longer is
because of their environmental adaptation
which results to evolution.
FUNCTIONAL EXPLANATION – describes why a
structure or behavior evolved as it did.
Type of
Example from Birdsongs
Explanation
A particular area of a songbird
brain grows under the influence
of testosterone; hence, it is larger
Physiological in breeding males than in females
or immature birds. That brain
area enables a mature male to
sing.
In certain species, a young male
bird learns its song by listening to
adult males. Development of the
Ontogenetic song requires certain genes and
the opportunity to hear the
appropriate song during a
sensitive period early in life.
Certain pairs of species have
similar songs. For example,
dunlins and Baird’s sandpipers,
two shorebird species, give their
Evolutionary
calls in distinct pulses, unlike
other shorebirds. The similarity
suggests that the two evolved
from a single ancestor.
In most bird species, only the
male sings. He sings only during
the reproductive season and only
Functional
in his territory. The functions of
the song are to attract females
and warn away other males.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGY
 Neuropsychologist – focuses and specializes with
the brain.
 Psychophysiologist – they use biological or
physiological condition to have an assessment in
the current situation of the person.
 Clinical Psychologist – do psychological testing
and assessment, or even psychometrician tests.
 Counselling Psychologist – focuses on the
counselling and therapy.
 Neurologist – they’re familiar in the parts and
function ng brain.
PSYCH212: PHYSIOLOGICAL/BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction to Psychology
Prof. Rainier Ladic

 Neurosurgeon – operates the brain knowledge, thinking, and

 Psychiatrist – has the power to recommend and problem solving.
prescribes medication to people who are Conducts behavioral tests
experiencing disorders. They have the power also to determine the abilities
to conduct therapy as long as they have and disabilities of people
with various kinds of brain
experience.
damage, and changes in
 Physical Therapist –well-versed in human injuries,
Neuropsychologist their condition over time.
may it be bone or muscle. They treat injuries so Most neuropsychologists
that it can function properly again because our have a mixture of
brain has a plasticity method that can heal itself as psychological and medical
long as there is practice. When your body part is training; they work in
dysfunctional you have to be more eager to do hospitals and clinics.
something about it. Measures heart rate,
 Occupational therapist – they give treatment on a breathing rate, brain
specific injury. They focus on the treatment of fine waves, and other body
motor skills. Psychophysiologist processes and how they
 Social Worker – supports professionals, they may vary from one person to
another or one situation to
have expertise in psychology but they are not
another.
psychologists. They are trained professionals.
Investigates the chemical
Neurochemist
PLACEBO EFFECT – connected in “plasticity” reactions in the brain.
meaning, our brain can heal itself. Comparative
Compares the behaviors of
psychologist
different species and tries
FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION (almost synonyms:
to relate them to their
ethologist, animal
Specialization Description ways of life.
behaviorist)
Research positions Relates behaviors,
ordinarily require a PhD. especially social behaviors,
Researchers are employed including those of humans,
Research Fields Evolutionary
by universities, hospitals, to the functions
pharmaceutical firms, and psychologist
they have served and,
research institutes. (almost synonym:
therefore, the presumed
Studies the anatomy, sociobiologist)
selective pressures that
biochemistry, or physiology caused them to
of the nervous system. evolve
Neuroscientist (This broad term includes Require a PhD, PsyD, or
any of the next five, as well master’s degree. In most
as other specialties not cases, their work is not
listed.) directly related to
Investigates how Practitioner Fields
Behavioral neuroscientist neuroscience. However,
(almost synonyms:
functioning of the brain of Psychology
psychobiologist, practitioners often need to
biopsychologist, or and other organs understand it enough to
physiological psychologist) influences behavior. communicate with a
Cognitive Uses brain research, such client’s physician.
neuroscientist as scans of brain anatomy Clinical Employed by hospital,
or activity, to analyze and psychologist clinic, private practice, or
explore people’s college; helps people with
PSYCH212: PHYSIOLOGICAL/BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction to Psychology
Prof. Rainier Ladic

emotional problems. psychologist.

Most are employed by a
school system. Identifies USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH
educational needs of 4 Reasons Why to use Animals in Research or
School psychologist schoolchildren, devises a Experiments:
plan to meet the needs, 1. Similarity of behavior mechanisms and
and then helps teachers convenience to study non-human species.
implement it. 2. Interest in animals for their own sake.
Require an MD plus about 3. Learning about animals shed light on human
four years of additional
evolution
specialized study and
4. Legal and ethical restrictions from using humans
practice. Physicians are
employed by hospitals, for aversive research experiments.
Medical Fields
clinics, medical schools, DEGREES OF OPPOSITION
and in private practice.
Minimalists – tolerates certain types of animal
Some conduct research in
addition to seeing research. They defend animal rights so that animals'
patients. experiments in laboratories are not overdone. They
Treats people with brain also understand more that experimenting on
Neurologist damage or diseases of the animals will benefit us all.
brain. Abolitionists – maintains that all animals have the
Neurosurgeon Performs brain surgery. same rights as humans. Close-minded people since
Helps people with they see animal experiments as cruelty and abuse.
emotional distress or
Psychiatrist troublesome behaviors, LEGAL STANDARS IN USING ANIMALS FOR
sometimes using drugs or RESEARCH (The 3 “R’s”)
other medical procedures. Reduction – if they do an experiment on animals,
Ordinarily require a they have to reduce the number of needed animals
master’s degree or more. in the experiment.
Allied Medical Practitioners are employed Replacement – they can use prototypes since there
Field by hospitals, clinics, are animals that are near extinction.
private practice, and
Refinement – process of killing the animal for
medical schools.
research, it has to be a peaceful death
Provides exercise and other
treatments to help people
with muscle or nerve
Physical therapist
problems, pain, or anything
else that impairs
movement.
Helps people improve their
Occupational ability to perform functions
therapist of daily life, for example,
after a stroke.
Social worker Helps people deal with
personal and family
problems. The activities of
a social worker overlap
those of a clinical