Week 08 - Introduction to Biological and General Psychology

Module Information

  • Course: PSYC3010 Introduction to Biological and General Psychology

  • Instructor: Amir-Homayoun Javadi

  • Contact: a.h.javadi@kent.ac.uk

  • Website: www.javadilab.com

Attendance Code

  • Code: 667014

Module Outline

  • Academic Year: 2024/25

  • Recommendation: Read the module outline!

Reading List

  • Textbook: Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biology of the Mind

    • Authors: Michael S. Gazzaniga, Richard B. Ivry, G.R. Mangun

    • Edition: Fifth (2019)

    • ISBN: 0393667812, 9780393667813

    • Availability: Templeman Library with copies available

Book Bundles

  • Blackwell's Book Bundles: Offers core texts for Stage One Psychology at reduced prices.

Assessments

  • Autumn Exam: 40% (Multiple Choice Questions, Covers Autumn Term)

  • Final Exam: 60% (Multiple Choice Questions, Covers both terms)

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand main phenomena in biological and cognitive psychology

  • Develop skills in evaluating frameworks and methodologies

  • Gain historical perspective on cognitive psychology

  • Enhance written analysis, communication, numeracy, and problem-solving skills

What is Psychology?

  • Definition: Study of the mind and behavior

  • Etymology:

    • Psych (Greek) = "soul"

    • Ology = "to study"

Historical Background

  • Pre-Psychology: Origin from Natural Philosophy (Plato, Aristotle)

  • Influences: Nativism vs. Empiricism, Mind-Body Dualism, Monism (Descartes, Hobbes)

Key Figures and Concepts

  • Franz Joseph Gall: Link between brain size and mental abilities; developed Phrenology

  • Early Neuropsychology: Paul Broca linked specific brain areas to functions (Broca's & Wernicke's areas)

  • 19th Century Psychology: Birth through laboratories and experiments (Wundt, Helmholtz)

Approaches in Psychology

  • Structuralism: Wundt - analysis of mental elements

    • Critique: Limited by subjectivity (Titchener)

  • Functionalism: James - purpose of mental processes, influenced by Darwin

  • Psychoanalysis: Freud - emphasis on unconscious mind structures

  • Behaviourism: Focus on observable behavior (Pavlov, Watson, Skinner)

Cognitive Psychology

  • David Marr’s Levels of Analysis:

    • Computational, Algorithmic, Implementation

  • Example: Mental rotation task illustrating cognitive processing

Biological Psychology

  • Focus: Relationship between behavior and biological processes

  • Applications: Understanding neural structures, influences of hormones, genetics, and evolution

  • Example: Split-brain patients and implications for cognitive functions.

Exam Questions for PSYC3010 Introduction to Biological and General Psychology

  1. Define Psychology: What is the study of psychology and what are its main focuses?

    • Answer: Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior, focusing on understanding mental processes and behavior influences.

  2. Historical Influences: Discuss the contributions of key figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Hobbes to the foundations of psychology.

    • Answer: Plato and Aristotle laid early philosophical groundwork, with debates between nativism (Plato) and empiricism (Aristotle). Descartes and Hobbes contributed to the understanding of mind-body dualism and monism.

  3. Neuropsychology: Explain Paul Broca's contribution to early neuropsychology and the significance of Broca's and Wernicke's areas.

    • Answer: Paul Broca linked specific brain areas to functions, discovering Broca's area involved speech production and Wernicke's area in language comprehension.

  4. Psychological Approaches: Compare and contrast structuralism and functionalism in psychology.

    • Answer: Structuralism, founded by Wundt, focuses on analyzing mental elements, while functionalism, promoted by James, emphasizes the purpose of mental processes influenced by Darwin.

  5. Cognitive Psychology: What are David Marr’s three levels of analysis in cognitive psychology? Provide an example illustrating these levels.

    • Answer: Marr's levels are computational, algorithmic, and implementation; an example is the mental rotation task demonstrating cognitive processing through these levels.

  6. Biological Psychology: Describe the interplay between biological processes and behavior, with examples like split-brain patients.

    • Answer: Biological psychology examines how neural structures, hormones, and genetics influence behavior, exemplified by split-brain patients demonstrating lateralization of cognitive functions.