Principles of the biological perspective

  • Brain functioning, along with the influence of hormones, genetics, and evolution, can account for behaviour, thoughts, and emotions.
  • The biological basis and its interplay with various factors can elucidate the similarities and differences among individuals.
  • Dement and Kleitman (sleep and dreams)
  • Hassett et al. (monkey toy preferences)
  • Hölzel et al. (mindfulness and brain scans)

References

  1. Dement, W and Kleitman, N (1957), The relation of eye movements during sleep to dream activity: An objective method for the study of dreaming. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 53(5): 339–46
  2. Hassett, J M, Siebert, E R and Wallen, K (2008), Sex differences in rhesus monkey toy preferences parallel those of children. Hormones and Behaviour, 54(3): 359–64
  3. Hölzel, B K, Carmody, J, Vangel, M, Congleton, C, Yerramsetti, S M, Gard, T and Lazar, S W (2011), Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research, 191(1): 36–43