PSYCO381 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Pineal Gland, Reflexology, Biological Neural Network
Document Summary
Chapter 1: background & rationale for the study of. A biological process that facilitates survival and promotes well-being. Improves how organisms adapt to their environment. Involves acquisition of new behaviours, responses to an environment. Learning involves making response, and withholding responses. Human behavior is determined by conscious intent & free will. Behaviour is not determined by natural laws. Rene descartes formed cartesian dualism: the theory that there are two classes of human behaviour: involuntary & voluntary behaviours. Automatic reactions to external stimuli mediated by reflexes. Mechanism: environmental stimuli detected by organs sensory info taken to brain by nerves response is sent to muscles involuntary response/reflex. Stimuli in the environment cause all involuntary behaviour. Stimuli produces involuntary behaviour through a neural circuit composed of only one set of nerves. Animals only have involuntary behaviours, b/c they lack free will. Initiated by the mind which is nonphysical entity connected to the pineal gland of the brain.
