Chapter 2 Biopsychology

What is Biopsychology? Biopsychology – The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and the environment Neuroscience – Interdisciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes

How Are Genes and Behavior Linked? Evolution has fundamentally shaped psychological processes because it favors genetic variations that produce adaptive behavior

How Are Genes and Behavior Linked? Innate – Inborn; present at birth; part of the organism’s biological heritage Evolution – The gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment

Evolution and Natural Selection Natural selection – The driving force behind evolution, by which the environment “selects” the fittest organisms

How Natural Selection Works Environmental pressure (changes in the environment) Competition (for resources) Selection of fittest phenotype (from among a variety of phenotypes) Reproductive success (genotype corresponding to fittest phenotypes passed to next generation) Frequency of that genotype increases (in next generation)

Genes and Inheritance Genotype – An organism’s genetic makeup Phenotype – An organism’s observable physical characteristics

Genes and Inheritance Mutations – Genetic variations, which occur randomly, especially during the recombination of chromosomes in sexual reproduction

Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA DNA – A long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics Genes – The functional units of a chromosome Composed of nucleotides

Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA Chromosomes – Tightly coiled threadlike structures along which the genes are organized Sex chromosomes – The X and Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristics

Genetic Explanations for Psychological Processes Genes influence our psychological characteristics as well as our physical traits

Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2006 End of Chapter 2 Section 2.1 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2006