The biological and psychoanalytical perspectives in psychology both provide an interesting insight into the various ways we as humans behave. The biological perspective focuses on biological factors, such as neurotransmitters and genes which affect our behaviour. The approach believes that our behaviour is identified through an underlying structure and function known as structuralism. Functionalism is the other concept the biological perspective focuses on which studies behaviour between the environment and organisms.
The psychoanalytical perspective was developed by Sigmund Freud; the approach believes that we are influenced by our unconscious. The psychoanalytical perspective has influenced many areas in psychology, from abnormal psychology to clinical and therapy. Furthermore, the perspective believes that our actions are instinctive and our behaviour is controlled by unconscious forces. For example, the Id and ego which will be explained in further detail later. Our behaviour and feelings as adults are also believed to be influenced by our childhood experiences. The upcoming paragraphs will cover various topics within the biological perspective.
First, outlining the automatic stimulus response actions such as reflexes. This is a key feature to the biological approach which was founded by Rene Descartes, he believed in a dualism concept which identified the soul and the mind to be separate from the body and the body a machine (Boakes, 1984). In addition to this Robert Whytt studied reflex actions, as he aimed to find reflexes which would occur naturally and those which required voluntary action. This is a historic belief of the biological approach, therefore may not be applicable or widely credited in today’s era.
Robert Whytt decapitated frogs and found that the frogs showed reflexes which illustrated that the brain was not required. Thus showing that neural mechanisms do influence our behaviour through reflexes, which can be seen as a similarity between both perspectives. This also shows that the perspective is focused on the deterministic side of the debate and neglects free will. This is evident through the beliefs of Rene Descartes and the fact that the approach deems our behaviour to be following the laws of the universe and biological factors.
The biological approach assumes that nearly all personality traits are passed down from an individual’s parents, and has an evolutionary function. In addition to this it has an evolutionary function as men whose testosterone levels decrease drastically are not only less aggressive and are less likely to not search for other sexual mates (PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES, 2007). This illustrates that the perspective focuses on both nature and nurture. As an individual’s behaviour is determined from birth and the birth of the child is an environmental factor which alters the behaviour of an individual.
Subsequently, another topic in the biological approach is phrenology which believes that the brain is the organ of a mind. This is a historic key feature of the approach, believing that the mind is made up of various faculties (cognitive and emotional) according to Franz-Joseph Gall. It is also believed that each faculty is associated with a specific brain location. The brain size of an individual was deemed to be greater if it was larger.
However, the size of the brain does not coincide with the function and the scalp surface does not match with the brain’s surface (Simpson, D. 005). This shows that the perspective focuses on both internal and external factors. This is because the approach believes that there are biological factors. These determine our behaviour for example various 2. faculties stated above such as cognitive and emotional. In addition, external factors can be researched scientifically, thus attributes this approach to the external side of the debate. Another core assumption of the biological approach is the structuralist and functionalist assumptions.
These two assumptions still have relevance today and early psychologists who studied this perspective’s believed that the study of conscious thoughts would be the key to understanding the mind. In addition, their approaches to the study of the mind were based on systematic and rigorous observation. This created a foundation for modern psychological experimentation. Structuralism was under heavy scrutiny and new approaches to studying the mind were considered. Functionalism was the alternative founded in the 19th century. This was built on structuralisms concern over the function of the mind (Stangor and Walinga, 2010).
Functionalism considers considers mental life and behaviour in terms of active adaptation to the person’s environment. It is believed that the brain has evolved for the purpose of ensuring survival for the carrier by acting as an information carrier. In processing the information, the brain is deemed to operate as a computer would. However, the brain is far more complex than a computer, can interact with others whereas a computer cannot. Another core feature of the biological approach is the brain is believed to be compromised of four lobes. The frontal lobe which is involved with expressing language and higher level cognition.
The occipital lobe which is involved with interpreting visual stimuli and information, the parietal lobe which processing information such as touch or pain. The final lobe is the temporal lobe which interprets sound and language we hear (Stangor and Walinga, 2010). There are a few topics in the psychoanalytical perspective such as psychoanalysis and the psychosexual stages and the Id and superego conflict. Sigmund Freud the founder of psychoanalysis explained the mind as an iceberg. In addition to this only a small amount of it is visible which is known as our observable behaviour.
The unconscious which is the submerged mind that has the most influence on our behaviour. There were three methods used by Freud to look into the unconscious mind, free association, dream analysis and slips of the tongue (PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES, 2007). This focuses on determinism rather than an individuals own free will to control their actions. This is because the perspective believes that there is an unconscious force which influences our behaviour. Subsequently, another core assumption into the psychoanalytical approach is the id, ego and superego. Freud was adamant that the unconscious consisted of the Id, ego and the superego.
In addition to this the id has two main instincts, Eros is the life instinct which involves self preservation. Thanatos is the death instinct, are energies channelled out of the body and towards others. The id and superego are always in conflict with each other, whilst the ego tries to dissolve the conflict. If the conflict is not resolved our brains use our defence mechanisms to combat this to prevent anxiety. The id is present from birth and operates on the basis of the pleasure pain principle. The superego is present in our conscious, it is believed that it is based on our idea of perfection.
In addition to this our ego develops during the first couple of years of our lives (PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES, 2007). 3 Furthermore, examples of our defence mechanism include displacement which satisfies an impulse such as aggression with a safe object. Another example of our defence mechanisms is projection, where an individual will project their unwanted feeling or thoughts onto another person (PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES, 2007). This illustrates that the approach is focused on internal factors rather than external. As the perspective focuses on how our inner mental state affects our behaviour.
Thus rejecting the idea of being affected by an external factor which denies any independence for the mind. The psychosexual stage is another aspect which affects psychoanalysis. This is due to the fact that it illustrates how early childhood experiences affect an individual’s personality as they grow older. There are five psychosexual stages, oral, anal, phallic, latency and the genital stage. Stimulation of the body is vital as the child progresses through their developmental stages. Excess of stimulation or lack of can result in negative consequences in the child’s life in the future.
In addition to this the most vital stage of an individual’s development is the phallic stage, as the focus in on the genitals. Whilst this stage is undergoing its process boys experience what is known as the Oedipus complex. Girls experience the Electra complex, thus resulting in both genders identifying with their same sex parents. Therefore, enables the children to behave appropriately; as they learn sex appropriate behaviour and gain morals (PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES, 2007). The psychoanalytical approach focuses on both the nature and nurture side of the debate.
This is because the the perspective identifies that not only does the environment affect the child’s personality and behaviour. The individual’s native behaviours are also a contributing factor towards how a person behaves. However, the psychosexual stages have been criticised because it emphasises the importance of sexuality and undermines the importance of social relationships. Additionally, the theory is not scientific and cannot be proved. However, psychoanalysis has encouraged many theorists to utilise its basic principles and eliminate the flaws of the research.
The theory is reductionist as it does not consider a holistic point of view such as an individual’s personality. The perspective focuses on a set point of view and does not allow us to identify why certain behaviours occur through a holist view point (PSYCHOLOGY PERSPECTIVES, 2007). In conclusion, both perspectives have similarities and differences as both approaches view that there is no free will. Thus they focus on determinism which is believed to affect the way we behave. This shows the similarity between both perspectives. However, when looking at the internal vs external debate both approaches differ.
This is because the biological approach focuses on both internal and external factors which affect behaviour. Whereas the psychoanalytical approach focuses on internal factors and completely neglects external factors which could influence behaviour. Both approaches also differ when looking at holism and atomism as the biological approach focuses on both, whereas the psychoanalytical approach deems it to be reductionist and does not consider a holistic point of view. The two perspective although have a similarity when it comes to looking at nature against nurture. They both believe that both factors influence our behaviour.
