The study of biological psychology

Biological psychology studies assist students grasp the relationship between brain processes and human behavior. The course has been quite helpful in assisting students in understanding how the many developmental problems linked with biological psychology affect an individual and society. My study project, in particular, which sought to investigate the progress of reading ability in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), revealed a lot about the way knowledge from biological psychology may be utilized across many sectors. According to Garret (2015), many people in the past suffered from developmental disorders but failed to get the right diagnosis because of limited information in the area. Today, more cases of such conditions are reported and intervened because the population is aware of the developmental issues associated with biological psychology.

Therefore, this paper analyzes the different ways the concept learned in this course can be applied in life, both to the individual learner and the society. Some of the issues the paper will discuss include the application of biological psychology in different careers, in professional practice, in enhancing social values, and in the future life of a student. Without a doubt, the concepts learned in class are relevant beyond the realms of psychology. In particular, understanding how autism and other developmental disorders affect the performance of individuals is critical. In as such, the paper will reflect on some of the findings from the literature review of the proposal and project the essence of the study’s findings.

Application of study in Different Careers

Other than psychology, the findings of the research on autism, and biological psychology, in general, can be useful to several careers. Garret (2015) notes that the interdependence of psychology and other disciplines is evident in the manner training of numerous professional incorporate concepts that aims to understand the behaviors of individuals and the community. The following are some of the specific careers that will apply the findings from biological psychology studies.

Education

As evident in the proposal, there is a direct relationship between education and biological psychology. The study aimed to understand how children diagnosed with ASD advance their reading abilities from an early age to adulthood. Lindgren, et al. (2009) explain that modern educationists are not only concerned about the academic performance of children but are also eager to know the biological and psychological factors that affect the student. Consequently, many research studies conducted in the field have helped teachers to develop innovative teaching methodologies that have helped students with special needs.

More so, the cognitive skill of an individual is directly linked to their biological development, especially in the brain. Using the concepts learned in the course can help in advancing empirical inquiries that will equip educationists with information about the brain functioning of children and how it affects their academic output. For example, studies have shown that developmental disorders affect areas in the brain that impair visual perception of a person. Children who have difficulties in recognizing letters and words can use the findings of biological psychology to overcome their problems as suggested by Randi, Newman, and Grigorenko (2010). In as such, teachers will always be aware of the concepts learned in this course to help them to be effective in dealing with children with diverse abilities.

Sociology

This is a wide subject that often covers other disciplines such as criminology, religious studies, and anthropology. Sociologists endeavor to understand behaviors of individual and groups in the society and their impact on the community. They require a lot of information from biological psychology to come up with findings that would help them find solutions to social problems. For example, criminologists often try to profile convicts and understand the motivations behind their behaviors. In some cases, bio-psychological issues such as development disorders contribute to the antisocial behaviors evident in the society. For example, Pardo and Eberhart (2007) found that early interventions of children diagnosed with ASD help in molding their social skills. If the parents or teachers fail to help such children, they are likely to become overly aggressive in adulthood and commit ills such as domestic violence. Ultimately, anybody willing to understand the dynamics of social issues has to examine the motivations of individuals that make up the system. Therefore, a direct link exists in the functioning of sociologists and biological psychologists.

Medicine

Apart from neuroscience, medical practitioners also require information from biological psychology to treat and prevent health problems. Kikuchi, et al. (2013) note that some brain development disorders are associated with medical issues and vice versa. For example, a disease such as meningitis can cause a brain development disorder when it occurs at an early age. Therefore, medical practitioners have to use the services of psychologists to monitor the behaviors of some patients and identify possible complications in the brain. On the same note, psychologists also require the services of physicians to treat some of the conditions that manifest because of psychological disorders. Pardo and Eberhart (2007) note that some interventions used to manage some development disorders such as autism require medical experts.

More so, the biological aspects of psychology need to be examined by qualified medical specialists. While the psychologists focus on observing the behaviors of people, only physicians have the mandate to examine the functions of the body and recommend drug prescriptions or surgical interventions. For instance, if a child with a developmental disorder is found to have a brain defect, then the field of medicine will take over and perform the needed surgical operation to correct the defect. Bio psychologists will then take up the role of observing the behavioral recovery of the patient. Therefore, a symbiotic relationship exists between the two fields where the medical doctors attend to the internal technical aspects of the body while the occupational therapists take care of the symptoms that manifest in the behaviors of the patients. Hence, it is not easy to separate the functioning of the two careers. Whilst, it is possible for students to specialize in either psychology or medicine, they will always need the services of the other discipline.

Professional practice

The core principle of biological psychology is the relationship between the nervous system and the behaviors of an individual. Garret (2015) explains that the nervous system connects all the organs of the body controlled by the brain that acts as the center of the system. All the senses of the body, including sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste are determined by neurological processes that take part in the brain. Hormonal processes also play a critical role in controlling the behaviors of a person. Pardo and Eberhart (2007) assert that the different senses of the body collect information from the environment and communicate to the brain that gives feedback through triggering muscular, cognitive, and hormonal processes. Therefore, a slight alteration of these functions is likely to result in behavior change or modification.

Psychologists can use this principle in professional practice, especially when offering therapy to people with mental problems. For example, a psychologist treating a patient suffering from depression will use information from this course. The patient may have several biological symptoms such as a headache, backaches, lack of appetite, and dehydration. At the same time, some behavioral signs such as aggressiveness, moodiness, sadness, and wanting to be alone could also be evident in the patient. The psychologists will have to use a combination of cognitive behavior therapy and pharmaceutical therapies to treat both the biological and physiological problems.

Sports scientists such as coaches use the principles of biological psychology to optimize the performance of athletes. When facing a tough competition, sports men and women tend to pressure both their bodies and minds. The coach must be in a position to understand the fears, pressures, and motivations of the individual athletes in the process of training. For example, when an athlete is overly anxious to win, the breathing system may change and affect the supply of oxygen to the muscles leading to a drop of physical performance. Therefore, the coach must ensure that the athlete is mentally relaxed to help optimize the performance of the body. The same applies to mental distress such as family problems that can also affect the physical output of an athlete.

Modern security agencies also use the theories of biological psychology when interrogating suspects. Randi, Newman, and Grigorenko (2010) notes that it is possible to decipher the motivations or emotions of an individual based on the dynamics of body senses. Therefore, detectives use this information when asking questions from suspects or witnesses. By observing changes in breathing system, sweating, and eye movement, it is easy to make a judgment on the accurateness of the information given by the subject. There are even technological devices such as the lie detector that monitor body systems and determine the correctness of the information given. Such innovation relies on the principles of biological psychology that connect brain functions and the body.

Teachers also use knowledge from the study to identify and help students with developmental disorders. Several studies on psychological disorders noted that there is a low correlation between low word decoding skills and cognitive ability. For instance, Lindgren, et al. (2009) found that some children could read words but have lower comprehension skills while others have high cognitive abilities but cannot read properly. The brain functions that process visual images are different from that which develop meaning from the words or images. Consequently, teachers can use such info to identify students who have serious cognitive problems and those who have reading disability such as dyslexia. Without a background in biological psychology, it would be perplexing for teachers to identify students with diverse developmental disorders and those with normal learning problems.

Values

The nature of biological psychology makes it an integral discipline in our sociocultural context. The concepts learned in the course reflect some of the social issues people face on a day to day basis. Therefore, it is possible to use the subject to describe values that underlie society. To start with, psychological researchers are strictly guided by ethical guidelines that seek to protect the subject of the study and the target audience. From practical experience I had on developing a research proposal, I have come to appreciate the essence of ethics. Many studies in the field of biological psychology require the use of human beings as the subject. These might be children or adults who are facing diverse psychological problems or close associates of the patients. Consequently, it is the responsibility of the researcher to observe all the ethical requirements of a research project. If dealing with children, consent must be sought from the guardians and care taken not to harm or abuse the subjects. Adult participants should also be treated with due diligence to avoid aggravating their situation in the process of conducting the research. Most importantly, the method used to conduct the study should be reliable so that the findings would not be misleading.

Matters of psychology are sensitive and affect the society. For a long time, people suffering from psychological disorders have faced stigmatization from the society. In some parts of the world, mental illnesses are associated with witchcraft. Some children born with developmental disabilities are disowned by the family and face social discrimination. Even in modern society, children living with developmental disorders have a hard time at school because not many people understand the causes and treatment of such conditions. There are debates going on if mentally and physically challenged children should be included in the normal schooling system. Some are advocating for special schools while others believe incorporating them in regular classes will help them develop social skills needed in the workplace.

Similarly, adults at the workplace also have a hard time dealing with psychological problems. While employers are ready to give a seek leave to employees suffering from physical diseases such as fever, not many can help workers suffering from depression and other psychological disorders. In fact, individuals exhibiting depressive symptoms at the workplace are considered undisciplined or not having the right temperament to undertake their responsibilities and most face summary dismissal. Therefore, it is important for the society to understand the connection between the brain and other body functions or emotions. Individuals suffering from psychological disorders should not be perceived as emotionally weak but should be treated as other patients requiring medical attention and rest.

The social, economic, and cultural diversity that prevails in the society makes it a problem to help people facing psychological problems. Poverty remains a social problem that affects millions of people across the world. The poor face depressing situations in life and do not have the financial capacity to seek professional help. It is true that many people have disorders associated with biopsychology but do not have the ability to go through expensive examinations. Therefore, only a few people who can afford the services of neurologists, psychiatrists, and therapists have the opportunity to go through the sophisticated interventions to solve their problems. Majority of the society live in ignorance on matters of their biopsychosocial health and that of their family members. Kikuchi, et al. (2013) note that diagnosing psychological disorders remain a preserve of a few in the society. The majority have to cope with the issues from childhood to adulthood.

Therefore, it is imperative to re-examine our social values with regard to our psychosocial health. The many studies conducted on the subject of biological psychology should help people from all walks of life in the society. As noted, the application of the subject knowledge cut across diverse disciplines that impact on social functioning. For instance, getting help for children diagnosed with developmental disorders should reach children across the world and not just a few in the prestigious private schools.

Future life

The study of biological psychology has been quite enlightening and interesting. All the topics covered in the course were quite informative. Initially, I had learned subjects of psychology and biology separately but this cause created a link between the two. I became aware of the connection between human behavior and neurological processes. It is clear now that the nervous system of the body is an integral organ that few people appreciate its role. It was a pleasure learning about the functioning of the brain, an aspect that I considered very complex before embarking on this course. Most importantly, the course made it clear how the dynamics of neurological activities and structure affect behaviors of people, especially those with psychological disorders.

In my personal life, the knowledge gained from the course will help me in maintaining my mental health and controlling my mentions, as well as behaviors. Today I understand brain activities and how they affect my actions. I will use the information to ensure that the pressures from the environment do not affect my life by interfering with my psychological stability. It is easy for individuals to crumble under the pressure that comes with stress in life but the mind has the capacity to overcome with the right approach. I hope to become a better person emotionally, physically, and socially by controlling the mental impulses that may affect my life.

In future, I also hope to get a family and the information from this course will help in guiding my children’s development. I have noted that people face many psychological disorders without knowing. Thanks to this course, I can not only identify the symptoms but also predict the likelihood of some developmental conditions that are genetically induced. If I have close relatives who have children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, Autism, GDD, down syndrome, among others, I can advise them to monitor the development of their kids. Early diagnosis of these psychological disorders helps in minimizing their effect later in life. Therefore, I am certain this course will help me understand the bio-psychological development of those around me.

In my professional career, I also hope to benefit from the concepts I have gained from the course. I may not become a professional psychologist, but in whichever career I pursue, the knowledge will be applicable. I will certainly be a better employee or even an employer because I understand how my mental health affects my effectiveness at the workplace. I will be in a position to help those going through psychological problems and those discriminated upon by the society because of their mental or physical conditions. I believe having emotional intelligence is an important asset in the modern workplace. This cause has helped me understand that it is possible to optimize general well-being by ensuring the mental and biological processes of the body are in sync.

References

Garret, B. (2015). Brain and behavior: an introduction to biological psychology (4th ed). Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage

Kikuchi, M., Yoshimura, Y., Shitamichi, K., Ueno, S., Hirosawa, T., Munesue, T., … Minabe, Y. (2013). A custom magnetoencephalography device reveals brain connectivity and high reading/decoding ability in children with autism. Scientific Reports, 3, 1139. http://doi.org/10.1038/srep01139

Lindgren, K. A., Folstein, S. E., Tomblin, J. B., & Tager-Flusberg, H. (2009). Language and Reading Abilities of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Specific Language Impairment and Their First-Degree Relatives. Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2(1), 22–38. http://doi.org/10.1002/aur.63

Pardo, C. A., & Eberhart, C. G. (2007). The neurobiology of autism. Brain Pathology, 17(4), 434-447. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00102.x/full

Randi, J., Newman, T., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2010). Teaching Children with Autism to Read for Meaning: Challenges and Possibilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(7), 890–902. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-0938-6