Biological Explanations:

Psychology as a natural science: Evaluating the strengths and limitations of a biological approach to psychology

Human behavior and experience depend upon biology. What biological bases have been suggested over history? How do we evaluate these ideas today, based on scientific evidence? What are some unanswered questions? What are the strengths and limitations of a biological orientation? What is the relationship between the brain and the mind?

Boeree, C. G. (webpage). A brief history of the lobotomy.

• http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/lobotomy.html

Gray, P. (January 11, 1999). Cursed by eugenics: A belief that human intelligence could guide evolution led the world to concentration camps. Time Magazine, v. 153, n. 1

• http://www.mindfully.org/GE/Eugenics-Cursed-Concentration-Camps.htm

Guyer, R. L. Insights from a broken brain. (Phineas Gage and modern patients with brain damage) [web page]

• http://science-education.nih.gov/nihHTML/ose/snapshots/multimedia/ritn/Gage/Broken_brain1.html

Insel, T. R., & Fernald, R. D. (2004). How the brain processes social information: Searching for the social brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 27, 697-722.

Kihlstrom, J. F. (2006). Does neuroscience constrain social-psychological theory? Available online:

• http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~kihlstrm/SPSPDialogue06.htm

Krech, D. (1969). Does behavior really need a brain? In praise of William James: Some historical musings, vain lamentations, and sounding of great expectations. In R. B. MacLeod (Ed.). William James: Unfinished business (pp. 1-11). Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Associations.

Liston, C. (2001). An interview with Antonio R. DeMasio. The Harvard Brain, 8. [online]

• http://hcs.harvard.edu/~husn/BRAIN/vol8-spring2001/damasio.htm

Macmillan, M. The Phineas Gage information page. [web page with links]

• http://www.deakin.edu.au/hbs/GAGEPAGE/

Simonton, D. K. (2003). Francis Galton's Hereditary Genius: Its place in the history and psychology of science. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.). Anatomy of impact: What makes the great works of psychology great (pp. 3-18). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Society for Neuroscience pamphlet, "Brain Facts"

• http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=brainfacts

Society for Neuroscience news release 8/15/07: “Area responsible for ‘self-control’ found in the human brain: May help explain why some people are impulsive”

• http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=news_081507

Szasz, T. S. (1960). The myth of mental illness. American Psychologist, 15, 113-118.

• http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Szasz/myth.htm

van Wyhe, J.: "Phrenology: An overview"

• http://www.victorianweb.org/science/phrenology/phrenologyov.html

World Health Organization: "Substance abuse treatable, says neuroscience expert report" [web page] (This page emphasizes biological approaches to the treatment of addictions.)

• http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2004/pr18/en/