Psychology 2220A/B Chapter 2: chapter 2 - evolution genetics and experience final copy

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2220A/B
• Professor: Dr.Yves Bureau

Document Summary

From dichotomies to interactions: there is a tendency to think in simple dichotomies when explaining behaviour. Is it inherited or is it learned: both questions are common, yet misguided. Is it physiological or psychological: cartesian dualism: descartes argued that the universe consists of two elements, physical matter, human mind (soul, self, or spirit, cartesian dualism viewed the mind and brain as separate entities. Is it inherited or is it learned: the (cid:862)nature-nurture(cid:863) issue, watson, a behaviorist, believed that all behaviour is the product of learning (nurture, ethology, the study of animal behaviour in the wild, focuses on instinctive (nature) behaviours. Mind-brain dualism: problem 1: brain damage has an impact on psychological functioning, e. g. It is important to remember that behaviour is unlikely: without brain, without stimuli, without environment. Consequently, as mentioned earlier there is an interaction which is responsible for changes over time.