{"id":309,"date":"2023-03-01T15:05:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T15:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/reading-biopsychology-and-evolutionary-psychology\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T20:00:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T20:00:23","slug":"reading-biopsychology-and-evolutionary-psychology","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/reading-biopsychology-and-evolutionary-psychology\/","title":{"raw":"The Psychological Domains: Learn It 2\u2014The Biological Domain","rendered":"The Psychological Domains: Learn It 2\u2014The Biological Domain"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>The Biological Domain<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1509\/2017\/02\/17032652\/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-4.42.40-PM.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-3776 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1509\/2017\/02\/17032652\/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-4.42.40-PM.png\" alt=\"Image of five pillars, showing the biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health.\" width=\"732\" height=\"456\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\r\n<p>What changes in your brain when you are angry, happy, hungry, depressed, or nervous? How is your brain sometimes tricked into seeing things that aren't there? How much of your behavior is dictated by your genetics? These are questions considered within the biological domain.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>biopsychology<\/h3>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_4789\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"210\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/855\/2016\/10\/11224120\/FMRI_Brain_Scan.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-4789 \" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/855\/2016\/10\/11224120\/FMRI_Brain_Scan.jpg\" alt=\"The inside of a human brain\" width=\"210\" height=\"171\" \/><\/a> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Different brain-imaging techniques provide scientists with insight into different aspects of how the human brain functions.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<p data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"889\"><strong data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"631\">Biopsychology<\/strong>\u2014also called <strong data-start=\"644\" data-end=\"669\">biological psychology<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"690\">psychobiology<\/strong>\u2014applies the principles of biology to the study of mental processes and behavior. Researchers in this field explore how the nervous system\u2019s structure and function influence thought and action.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"928\">Subfields of biopsychology include:<\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"1199\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"995\">\r\n<p data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"995\"><strong>Behavioral neuroscience<\/strong>: studies the biological basis of behavior by examining how brain structures, neurotransmitters, and neural circuits influence actions, emotions, and learning in both humans and animals.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"995\">\r\n<p data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"995\"><strong>Cognitive neuroscience<\/strong>: uses brain imaging and other techniques to identify which brain regions are active during specific mental processes like thinking, memory, language, and decision-making.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"995\">\r\n<p data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"995\"><strong>Neuropsychology<\/strong>: examines patients with brain injuries, lesions, or neurological disorders to understand which brain areas control specific cognitive functions and behaviors.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<p>Research areas span sensory and motor systems, sleep, drug use, reproduction, neurodevelopment, plasticity, and the biological basis of psychological disorders. This interdisciplinary field overlaps with neuroscience, drawing from biology, medicine, physiology, and chemistry (Carlson, 2013).<\/p>\r\n<h3>Evolutionary Psychology<\/h3>\r\n<p data-start=\"1647\" data-end=\"1855\">While biopsychology often examines the immediate biological causes of behavior, <strong data-start=\"1727\" data-end=\"1754\">evolutionary psychology<\/strong> focuses on the <strong data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1789\">ultimate causes<\/strong>\u2014how traits and behaviors evolved through <strong data-start=\"1831\" data-end=\"1852\">natural selection<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>evolutionary psychology<\/h3>\r\n<p>Evolutionary psychologists study the extent that a behavior is impacted by genetics. The study of behavior in the context of evolution has its origins with Charles Darwin, the co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1870\" data-end=\"2031\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1872\" data-end=\"2031\">Just as organs like the heart and lungs evolved for survival, cognitive processes (e.g., memory, language, social behavior) also have adaptive functions.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2032\" data-end=\"2177\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2034\" data-end=\"2177\">Psychological mechanisms may have evolved to help humans find mates, cooperate, detect danger, form families, and navigate social groups.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<p data-start=\"2179\" data-end=\"2341\">Evolutionary psychologists test predictions by comparing behaviors across cultures. If a trait has a strong genetic basis, it should appear in all human groups.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2343\" data-end=\"2398\">Examples of evolutionary psychology research include:<\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"2399\" data-end=\"2758\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2399\" data-end=\"2572\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2572\"><strong data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2421\">Mate preferences<\/strong>: A study of 37 cultures found women valued earning potential in partners more than men, while men prioritized youth and attractiveness (Buss, 1989).<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"2573\" data-end=\"2758\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2575\" data-end=\"2758\"><strong data-start=\"2575\" data-end=\"2589\">Friendship<\/strong>: Recent research shows men tend to value physical attractiveness in opposite-sex friends, while women emphasize protection and resources (Szymkow &amp; Frankowska, 2022).<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">[ohm2_question height=\"575\"]12057[\/ohm2_question][ohm2_question height=\"575\"]12058[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>\r\n<h3>Sensation and Perception<\/h3>\r\n<p data-start=\"2796\" data-end=\"2937\">Another key area within the biological domain is <strong data-start=\"2845\" data-end=\"2873\">sensation and perception<\/strong>\u2014the study of how we detect and interpret sensory information.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"2939\" data-end=\"3144\">This field blends psychology, physiology, and neuroscience to explore how <strong data-start=\"3013\" data-end=\"3052\">biological mechanisms of the senses<\/strong> (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, balance) connect to <strong data-start=\"3112\" data-end=\"3141\">psychological experiences<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3146\" data-end=\"3191\">Example: Picture yourself on a busy campus\u2014<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"3194\" data-end=\"3259\">Vision: colors of buildings, shapes of people walking past.<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"3262\" data-end=\"3306\">Hearing: laughter, footsteps, chatter.<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"3309\" data-end=\"3359\">Touch: the pressure of your backpack straps.<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"3362\" data-end=\"3408\">Smell: food trucks or freshly cut grass.<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"3411\" data-end=\"3501\">Balance &amp; proprioception: your awareness of movement as you weave through the crowd.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3621\">All these sensory details illustrate how the brain integrates information to form a unified experience of the world.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">[ohm2_question height=\"575\"]3928[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>","rendered":"<h2>The Biological Domain<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1509\/2017\/02\/17032652\/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-4.42.40-PM.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3776 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1509\/2017\/02\/17032652\/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-4.42.40-PM.png\" alt=\"Image of five pillars, showing the biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health.\" width=\"732\" height=\"456\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>What changes in your brain when you are angry, happy, hungry, depressed, or nervous? How is your brain sometimes tricked into seeing things that aren&#8217;t there? How much of your behavior is dictated by your genetics? These are questions considered within the biological domain.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>biopsychology<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4789\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4789\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/855\/2016\/10\/11224120\/FMRI_Brain_Scan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4789\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/855\/2016\/10\/11224120\/FMRI_Brain_Scan.jpg\" alt=\"The inside of a human brain\" width=\"210\" height=\"171\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4789\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Different brain-imaging techniques provide scientists with insight into different aspects of how the human brain functions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"889\"><strong data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"631\">Biopsychology<\/strong>\u2014also called <strong data-start=\"644\" data-end=\"669\">biological psychology<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"690\">psychobiology<\/strong>\u2014applies the principles of biology to the study of mental processes and behavior. Researchers in this field explore how the nervous system\u2019s structure and function influence thought and action.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"891\" data-end=\"928\">Subfields of biopsychology include:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"1199\">\n<li data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"995\">\n<p data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"995\"><strong>Behavioral neuroscience<\/strong>: studies the biological basis of behavior by examining how brain structures, neurotransmitters, and neural circuits influence actions, emotions, and learning in both humans and animals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"995\">\n<p data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"995\"><strong>Cognitive neuroscience<\/strong>: uses brain imaging and other techniques to identify which brain regions are active during specific mental processes like thinking, memory, language, and decision-making.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"929\" data-end=\"995\">\n<p data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"995\"><strong>Neuropsychology<\/strong>: examines patients with brain injuries, lesions, or neurological disorders to understand which brain areas control specific cognitive functions and behaviors.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>Research areas span sensory and motor systems, sleep, drug use, reproduction, neurodevelopment, plasticity, and the biological basis of psychological disorders. This interdisciplinary field overlaps with neuroscience, drawing from biology, medicine, physiology, and chemistry (Carlson, 2013).<\/p>\n<h3>Evolutionary Psychology<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1647\" data-end=\"1855\">While biopsychology often examines the immediate biological causes of behavior, <strong data-start=\"1727\" data-end=\"1754\">evolutionary psychology<\/strong> focuses on the <strong data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1789\">ultimate causes<\/strong>\u2014how traits and behaviors evolved through <strong data-start=\"1831\" data-end=\"1852\">natural selection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>evolutionary psychology<\/h3>\n<p>Evolutionary psychologists study the extent that a behavior is impacted by genetics. The study of behavior in the context of evolution has its origins with Charles Darwin, the co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"1870\" data-end=\"2031\">\n<p data-start=\"1872\" data-end=\"2031\">Just as organs like the heart and lungs evolved for survival, cognitive processes (e.g., memory, language, social behavior) also have adaptive functions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2032\" data-end=\"2177\">\n<p data-start=\"2034\" data-end=\"2177\">Psychological mechanisms may have evolved to help humans find mates, cooperate, detect danger, form families, and navigate social groups.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<p data-start=\"2179\" data-end=\"2341\">Evolutionary psychologists test predictions by comparing behaviors across cultures. If a trait has a strong genetic basis, it should appear in all human groups.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2343\" data-end=\"2398\">Examples of evolutionary psychology research include:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2399\" data-end=\"2758\">\n<li data-start=\"2399\" data-end=\"2572\">\n<p data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2572\"><strong data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2421\">Mate preferences<\/strong>: A study of 37 cultures found women valued earning potential in partners more than men, while men prioritized youth and attractiveness (Buss, 1989).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2573\" data-end=\"2758\">\n<p data-start=\"2575\" data-end=\"2758\"><strong data-start=\"2575\" data-end=\"2589\">Friendship<\/strong>: Recent research shows men tend to value physical attractiveness in opposite-sex friends, while women emphasize protection and resources (Szymkow &amp; Frankowska, 2022).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm12057\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=12057&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm12057&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"575\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm12058\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=12058&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm12058&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"575\"><\/iframe><\/section>\n<h3>Sensation and Perception<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2796\" data-end=\"2937\">Another key area within the biological domain is <strong data-start=\"2845\" data-end=\"2873\">sensation and perception<\/strong>\u2014the study of how we detect and interpret sensory information.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2939\" data-end=\"3144\">This field blends psychology, physiology, and neuroscience to explore how <strong data-start=\"3013\" data-end=\"3052\">biological mechanisms of the senses<\/strong> (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, balance) connect to <strong data-start=\"3112\" data-end=\"3141\">psychological experiences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3146\" data-end=\"3191\">Example: Picture yourself on a busy campus\u2014<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"3194\" data-end=\"3259\">Vision: colors of buildings, shapes of people walking past.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3262\" data-end=\"3306\">Hearing: laughter, footsteps, chatter.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3309\" data-end=\"3359\">Touch: the pressure of your backpack straps.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3362\" data-end=\"3408\">Smell: food trucks or freshly cut grass.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3411\" data-end=\"3501\">Balance &amp; proprioception: your awareness of movement as you weave through the crowd.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3621\">All these sensory details illustrate how the brain integrates information to form a unified experience of the world.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm3928\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=3928&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm3928&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"575\"><\/iframe><\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Contemporary Psychology\",\"author\":\"OpenStax College\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-3-contemporary-psychology\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Biopsychology information\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Boundless\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/boundless-psychology\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Evolutionary psychology\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Wikipedia\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Evolutionary_psychology\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":335,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"cc","description":"Contemporary Psychology","author":"OpenStax College","organization":"","url":"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-3-contemporary-psychology","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction"},{"type":"cc","description":"Biopsychology information","author":"","organization":"Boundless","url":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/boundless-psychology\/","project":"","license":"cc-by-sa","license_terms":""},{"type":"original","description":"Evolutionary psychology","author":"","organization":"Wikipedia","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Evolutionary_psychology","project":"","license":"cc-by-sa","license_terms":""}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/309"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7409,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/309\/revisions\/7409"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/335"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/309\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=309"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=309"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}