White (2012) • What are the strengths and weaknesses of biological and humanistic theories? With which do you agree more? Strengths – both acknowledge that they are not the only approach to personality. Other results help with your personality for example, the environment you were brought up in. White (2012) Weaknesses – “With the humanistic theory, you are in control of your personality on a conscious level and with the biological theory; your genetics controls your personality.
For example, every pain event is identical with the C-fibers firing. Developed in the 1950's by Smart and Feigl; this theory was mainly influenced since modern research suggested that different parts of our brains were associated and were contributing to different actions. This theory explained experiencing pain due to a certain neurological state in the brain consisting of interactions between neurons and axons. Identity theory proposes that our mind and brain and identical, and that our mind in fact is our brain. In contrast,
The Biological Approach to Abnormality The biological approach to abnormality mainly looks at the human body and uses it to explain why certain people show abnormal behaviours or disorders. Psychologists believe that genetics may be the cause of abnormality but in order to test this they must look at twins, they study monozygotic and dizygotic twins and look at the concordance rate to see if both twins have the same disorder. They use twins to look at genetics because they share mostly the same genes meaning in theory if an abnormality is due to genes then both twins will show signs of the abnormality. The second part of the body psychologists look at is the brain, by performing brain scans on people who do not show abnormalities and people who do show abnormality they can see if there is a physical difference in brain structure that could be cause of the disorder. For example people with schizophrenia are believed to have this disorder because they have a bigger gaps in their brains due to the shrinkage of brain tissue.
Personality is influenced by genetic factors through temperament. For example, genetics influence individual differences based on how individuals respond and react to their environment. The contribution of genetics to psychological differences has been studied in research focused on behavioral genetics (e.g., Plomin, 2000). The second biological influence is the brain structure and neurotransmitters. As Pinel (2003) explains, gene expression determines how cells may develop and how it can function at personal maturity.
The Influence of Genetic Inheritance on Human Behaviors The Case Study of Twins Genetic inheritance is the transmission of genetic material (genes) from parents to offspring, almost all physical and many personality traits and unique abilities are found in the genes. Just like the environment, the genetics plays an important role in contributing to individual variations in human behaviors. In this case, the human behavior that is studied through twin studies is neuroplasticity by comparing the concordance rates of both homosexual potencies and IQ levels of twins. One of the most common ways to study the possible correlation of genetic inheritance and the behavior is through correlational twin studies. Through previous studies on genetic inheritance, it is known that the higher the genetic relationship the more similar individuals will be if particular characteristic being investigated is inherited.
“Describe and evaluate the Biological Approach” The Biological approach emphasises on the significance of nature in the nature-nurture debate, whereas the nature argument conveys the idea that all of our behaviour is influenced by genetics, and not the environment. Therefore, behaviour and thought processes are thought to have an innate, biological basis, as well as the mind and brain are believed to be the same. In addition, the biological approach supports the idea that human characteristics, such as intelligence, are solely due to our genetic make-up. The evolution of behaviour has been suggested by Darwin, who proposed the idea that human genes have evolved over time to adapt behaviour to the environment, so the principle of natural selection suggests that only the strongest genes survive, whereas the weaker genes die out. Psychologists have been able to manipulate certain genes in order to measure the effects of behaviour, and this can be done by genetic mapping, genetic engineering or selective breeding.
1.a) Outline two assumptions of the biological approach One assumption of the biological approach is behaviour can be explained in terms of different areas of the brain. The brain is made up of the frontal lobe, the occipital lobe, the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe and the cerebellum. According to the biological approach different areas of the brain control different behaviours. For example the frontal lobe is responsible for personality and the occipital lobe is responsible for vision. Damage to these areas of the brain can change a person’s behaviour for example damage to the frontal lobe can affect personality.
Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality C M PSY/250 June 16, 2014 Anne Snyder Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality We are each born with our own personality, but this paper will determine whether our personality traits are genetically inherited from our parents, or if we develop them over time based on our environment and surroundings. It is believed that, “A person is not born a blank slate, to then be written on by the environment; people start with certain inherent predispositions and abilities” (Friedman & Schustack, 2012). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs will be discussed and examined. Biological factors that influence the formation of personality will also be discussed and the relationship of biological factors to Maslow’s theory of personality will be examined. Lastly, the basic aspects of humanistic theory that is incompatible with biological explanations of personality will be explained.
Biological and Humanistic Approaches to Personality Kama Warren University of Phoenix PSY/250 In defining personality as which does constitute distinction of individuals, Hans (2006), established his major theory that is based upon fundamental elements of the inherited characteristics. He divided genetic aspects of personality into three factors namely introversion-extroversion, neuroticism and psychoticism in regard to individual personality as well as the individual specific disposition and character. Hans (2006) contends that the genetic composition of any individual is monumental to overrule other external influences as a major means in which people form their personality. Moreover, he affirms that unique environment and genes are quite imperative though shared environment is not usually that crucial. In analyzing as well as comparing the humanistic and biological approaches to personality one can result to difference in opinions.
The brain is part of someone's body and controls psychological things. Everything that your body does (except cell division, cell oxidization, immune systems, etc.) is processed in the brain. Therefore, if something is happening psychologically it is also biological because the brain is a biological object, if you will. That brain controls psychological things.