Introduction Flashcards
is the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and
experience.
biological psychology
three main points to remember from reading biological psychology
- perception occurs in your brain
- mental activity and certain types of brain activity are, so far as we can tell, inseparable (monism).
- we should be cautious about what is an explanation and what is not.
the idea that the universe consists of only one type of being.
monism
the idea that minds
are one type of substance and matter is another
dualism
what does a physiological explanation do?
it relates a behavior
to the activity of the brain and other organs
what does an ontogenetic explanation do?
describes how a structure or behavior develops, including the influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions
what does an evolutionary explanation do?
reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior
what does a functional explanation do?
describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did
what are the four reasons why we study nonhumans?
- The underlying mechanisms of behavior are similar across species and sometimes easier to study in a nonhuman species
- We are interested in animals for their own sake
- What we learn about animals sheds light on human evolution
- Legal or ethical restrictions prevent certain kinds of
research on humans
What are the “three R’s” in the legal standards for animal research?
Reduction, replacement, and refinement
How does the “minimalist” position differ from the “abolitionist” position?
A “minimalist” wishes to limit animal research to
studies with little discomfort and much potential value.
An “abolitionist” wishes to eliminate all animal research
regardless of how the animals are treated or how much
value the research might produce.