Introduction
There is a strong correlation between psychology and biology, as they are both related to the understanding of the functions of the brain. It could be said that biology influences psychological knowledge in terms of providing information about the nervous system, the presence of the hormones, and reflexes. In turn, various sciences such as psychobiology were created to underline the interdependence of these disciplines. Psychobiology helps explain individual behavior from a biological perspective. Nonetheless, the primary goal of this essay is to provide examples of the biological functioning of the body and explain their importance in psychology while understanding the motives for the particular behavior. In the end, the conclusions are drawn to underline the significance of the findings.
Analysis
One of the biological aspects, which influences the behavior of the individuals, is the nervous system. This matter shows a high influence of biology on psychology, as the primary goal of both disciplines is to discover the ways of the signals’ interpretation into the behavior of the individual. Furthermore, nowadays, the psychologists tend to rely on neurobiology while defining the functions of the brain and its reflections on the actions (Peters, 2013). In turn, the hypothalamus not only controls the homeostasis but also regulates behavior related to survival (Feldman, 2014). It could be said that the nervous system is responsible for the biological existence of the body and social performance.
Nonetheless, hormones are another trend, which affects the psychological image and cognitive development of a person. For instance, such hormones as “cortisol and testosterone” affect the position in the social hierarchy and interactions with other members of the society (Kornienko, Clemans, Out, & Granger, 2014, p. 534). Speaking of a more detailed example, biology and psychology highlight that “those who are low in cortisol do not fear punishment” (Anderson, 2006, p. 145). In the end, biology helps understand the reasons for the actions of the criminals from the perspective of the levels of particular hormones.
Lastly, reflexes also play an important role in psychology and biology. It could be said that the reflexes assist a person in survival and protect him/her from danger (Macphail, 2013). However, the reflexes tend to explain particular actions such as taking a hand away from the fire. Nonetheless, other biological aspects such as immune and cardiovascular systems also have an impact on the behavioral patterns of people with health problems (Boren & Veksler, 2011). It could be said that a combination of the particular biological aspects defines the characteristics and traits of a person and highly refers to his/her psychological perception in society. In turn, these factors can explain the decision-making logic and certain behavioral patterns in particular situations. For instance, a person with cardiovascular problems might not want to participate in active games and be involved in many discussions due to the understanding of the risk. In turn, people can learn to control the blood pressure with the help of biofeedback, as the brain can influence the functioning of the body psychologically (Feldman, 2014).
Conclusion
In the end, the importance of biology in psychology and understanding of the behavior of the individuals cannot be underestimated. Different biological aspects such as the central nervous system, hormones, and reflexes help the researchers understand the reasons for the particular actions of people in various situations. It could be said that biology is a vital attribute of psychology and vice versa since both of the sciences fulfill the unknown aspects of each other. Lastly, the concern of the psychologist in the development of biology is reasonable, as the innovations in biology can be the primary determinants of the new findings and approaches in psychology.
References
Anderson, G. (2006). Biological influences on criminal behavior. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group.
Boren, J., & Veksler, A. (2011). A decade of research exploring biology and communication: The brain, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Communication Research Trends, 30(4), 4.
Feldman, R. (2014). Essentials of understanding psychology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Kornienko, O., Clemans, K., Out, D., & Granger, D. (2014). Hormones, behavior, and social network analysis: Exploring associations between cortisol, testosterone, and network structure. Hormones and Behavior, 66(3), 534.
Macphail, K. (2013). Is there a hierarchy for survival reflexes? Medical Hypotheses, 81(4), 638-642.
Peters, B. (2013). Evolutionary psychology: Neglecting neurobiology in defining the mind. Theory & Psychology, 23(3), 305-322.