Compare, contrast and evaluate the Biological perspective and the Behavioral perspective of psychology.

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Compare, contrast and evaluate the Biological perspective and the Behavioral perspective of psychology.

Psychology is a broad discipline and as such has seen an ever increasing number of fields of study grow within it. Psychoanalytic, cognitive and humanistic existential perspectives are just a few examples of differing core methods of approach and emphasis when applied to fundamental psychological issues. These differing approaches allow problems to be examined in a variety of ways by psychologists. Whilst it is quite common now to combine these metatheories in order to approach psychological issues (the biopsychosocial perspective or the sociocultural model, for example) the overarching framework of the broader perspectives still underpins these methodologies and ways of thinking.

        Two key metatheories which exist within the field of psychology are the Biological perspective and the Behavioural perspective. Whilst both of these approaches attempt to answer the same essential questions that exist throughout psychology they are fundamentally different in their delivery and methodology (although some similarities do exist). A brief example could posit that someone operating within the emphasis of the biological perspective would look at brain function and the role of the central nervous system in order to find how they affect a subject in terms of their emotional response to stimuli whilst one who adheres to the Behavioural perspective would examine environmental factors or use observation to determine the answer. Both of these perspectives are important theoretical methods in the realm of psychology and often form the basis of combined approaches.

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        The Biological perspective focuses on the underpinnings of behaviour on a physical and biological level. This discipline studies the effects of the physical body, evolution and genetics on human and animal behaviour. The Biological perspective is sometimes referred to as biopsychology when regarded as a branch of neuroscience, or physiological psychology, the premise of which being that mental processes and behaviour can be explained by an understanding of physiology and anatomy, usually with a particular focus on the brain and the central nervous system. This perspective has grown with technological advancement and an increased ability to examine the functions of ...

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