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Heredity, Hormones, And Human Behavior

Heredity, Hormones, and Human Behavior

The physiological perspective of psychology, also known as the biological perspective, is the study of how behavior and biological processes are interconnected. Physiological psychologists mainly study the bases of behavior and mental processes in a biologic manner. Heredity, hormones, and the nervous system can affect behavior and can be affected by behavior in turn. All human behavior originates as thought processes within the brain, similar to a computer and a computer processor. Humans are born with a brain, or computer, and the processor, or thought processes, develop strength over time; however, the physical structure, appearance, and internal make up can differentiate depending on based on heredity, which is the transmission of traits passed on genetically from one generation to the next (Maisto & Morris, 2002). Genes, in essence, are information carriers. There are two types of genes, dominant and recessive; dominant genes will emerge each time they are present while a recessive gene will only appear when paired with another recessive gene. Dominant and recessive genes are what make each individual unique and can determine hair color, eye color, height, and body type among many other characteristics. One individual’s brain has the same purpose and function as another; however, each individual’s brain capability is unique due to the fact it is inherited, genetically, from one’s biological parents.
In contrast, hormones are secreted by glands which are controlled by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This is how the brain controls and maintains body functions, including the visceral and other physical responses known as emotion. The role of the hypothalamus is to control emotion, motivation, and to coordinate the responses of the nervous system in times of stress (Maisto & Morris, 2002). Emotions as well as several other thought processes such as memory, intuition, judgment, and imagination are all key...