Brain and Behaviour

1.1
 Essential Understandings
• Our brain and neurochemistry – including neurotransmitters,
hormones and pheromones – play a role in human behaviour.

• As brain imaging technology has improved, so has our ability

to investigate the biological origins of human behaviour.

• Our physiology is a dynamic system that may change through

interaction with the environment.
• Many physiological factors can play a role in
behaviour and cognition: neurotransmitters,
hormones, and genes.
• However, physiology does not always work on
its own; for example, physiology responds to
environmental stimuli, such as a stressful or
happy experience, or an attractive person
walking by.
• The biological approach to studying behaviour argues that
there are physiological origins of many behaviours, and that
human beings should also be studied in terms of their biology.
• This is because psychologists have found that the relationship
between biological factors and behaviour is bidirectional –
that is biology may affect behaviour and cognition, and the
other way around.  
• Psychologists study how environmental factors interact with
biological systems in both animals and humans.  
• Many physiological factors can play a role in
behaviour and cognition: neurotransmitters,
hormones, and genes.
• However, physiology does not always work on
its own; for example, physiology responds to
environmental stimuli, such as a stressful or
happy experience, or an attractive person
walking by.
• One of the major controversies in the history of psychology is
the so-called nature versus nurture debate, in which researchers
debated whether human behaviour is the result of biological or
environmental factors.
• At this point in the history of psychology, a more balanced
approach has been adopted as scientific findings have
demonstrated that it is not a question of either biology or
environment, but that both nature and nurture play a role.
• This is reflected in the interactionist approach used by modern
psychologists who adopt a more holistic picture of human
behaviour. This is also the approach of IB psychology.
• An interactionist approach uses different
approaches – biological, cognitive and
sociocultural – to get a richer understanding of
behaviour.