📄The content: bio-psycho-social factors of behaviour

The foundation of modern psychology lies within 3 broader approaches in investigating human behaviour, these 3 approaches are biological psychology, cognitive psychology and sociocultural psychology. IB chooses to call these perspectives CONTENT. Each perspective has its own focus of investigation, its own prefered methods to study behaviour and it unique basic assumptions about human behaviour. If we want to understand why Messi or Neymar is such a good football player it will not be enough to attribute his success to genetics (biological appraoch), to his mindset or memory (cognitive approach) or his family, friends and wider society (sociocultural approach). We need all 3 perspectives to understand someone’s behaviour and all three perspectives influence each other, this is also important to remember. Your genes influence what environment you choose. Your social groups influence your interests and how you see the world. Each perspective contributes with its own knowledge of human behaviour but also with its own biases.

Biological approach

Biological psychology is the newest perspective to develop as a result of technological inventions like brain scans that allow scientists to investigate the brain and behaviour. It is only in the recent 50 years or so we have been able to look at brain structure and brain function and make assumptions about where in the brain behaviours originate (this is called localisation of function). We have also learnt that the brain is plastic, this means that it is ever changing in response to learning and environmental input.

Neurotransmission

Chemical messengers

Use of technology to investigate the brain and behaviour (fMRI and MRI)

Localisation of function

Genetic research of behaviour

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Basic assumptions:

Animal research can help us understand human behaviour

Biological factors like chemical messengers can affect our behaviour

Human behaviour can be inherited

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