1. Biopsychology General Psychology Don’t miss the animation of
this presentation!
Press F5 (at the top row of your keyboard).
Then use your space bar or arrow keys to
advance the slides.
Have questions?  
Biopsychology
General Psychology

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

3. How Are Genes and Behavior Linked?
Evolution
is the gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment
Evolution has fundamentally shaped psychological processes because it favors genetic variations that produce adaptive behavior
Psychological Processes

4. Evolution and Natural Selection
is the driving force behind evolution, by which the environment “selects” the fittest organisms

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

6. Genes and Inheritance Genotype An organism’s genetic makeup Phenotype
An organism’s observable physical characteristics
Mutations
Genetic variations, which occur randomly, especially during the recombination of chromosomes in sex reproduction

7. Sex Chromosomes Chromosomes DNA Genes
Are the X and Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristics
Chromosomes
Are tightly coiled, thread-like structures along which the genes are organized
DNA
Is a long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics
Genes
Are functional units of a chromosome; composed of nucleotides

8. Genes influence our psychological charcteristics as well as our physical traits

9. Please close this Powerpoint presentation and continue the lesson.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Please close this Powerpoint presentation
and continue the lesson.
Based on:
Psychology Core Concepts, 5th Ed.
By: Philip G. Zimbardo, Robert L. Johnson, Ann L. Weber
Presented by 27