GOOD MORNING! Take out a piece of paper, write your name on it and answer me this: Do you ever get “the shivers?” When you feel a tingle run down the back of your neck? Describe what happens when this sensation occurs, and also what triggers it.

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Do you get it from any of these videos? If you get the feeling, raise your hand!

Frisson & Philoerection Frisson (French for shiver) Usually runs down the spine, through the legs Philoerection (Hair standing up/goosebumps) Felt strongest on arms

The Brain, The Mind and Psychology The human brain is the most complex system, natural or man made, in the world. 100 billion nerve cells At a loss rate of 200,000 per day during our adult lives we still end up with over 98% of or brain cells.

Biopsychology Biopsychology: The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior and mental processes. The mind thinking about the mind. Neuroscience is a newer field of study in psychology focusing on the brain and our behavior.

Innate Abilities We are born with certain innate abilities, or things we are already programmed to do. But, there are things we must learn. Evolution is the gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment. Polydactyl Disorder

The Role of Evolution Evolution has fundamentally shaped psychology because it favors genetic variations that produce adaptive behavior. The evolutionary process is the link between genetics and behavior.

Its Beginnings Charles Darwin first developed the idea of evolution based on trips to South America to study the local wildlife and plants. While he was there he noticed similarities between many different species, but also variation within the same species. Based on his studies, Darwin concluded that all creatures, including humans, share a common ancestry.

Natural Selection The variation among the characteristics of a single species led to the mechanism for evolution…a “weeding out” process. Darwin called this natural selection. Darwin did not like the term “survival of the fittest.”

Natural Selection Natural selection says those individuals best adapted to the environment are more likely to flourish and reproduce; those that are poorly adapted will tend to leave fewer progeny, and their line may die out. For those individuals whose ancestors had accumulated new traits that allowed them to survive, the result “would be the formation of a new species (Darwin, 1859).”

Misconceptions About Evolution There are two main misconceptions about evolution and evolutionary psychology. 1. Darwin said humans come from monkeys. In reality he suggests that we had a common ancestor millions of years ago. 2. Behavior can alter heredity. People didn’t start growing bigger brains so they could communicate with language, but people who had bigger brains and could communicate had an easier time surviving. As a result, a bigger brain became a dominate trait in humans.

Evolution as an Accepted Theory… The majority of sciences recognize evolution as a valid theory for more than a century. Psychology has been slow to accept evolutionary psychology as a psychological theory. Some psychologists say it puts too much emphasis on nature (biological) and not enough on nurture (learning).

The Nervous System: Sends messages quickly but they don’t last long The Nervous System: Sends messages quickly but they don’t last long. Broken into two parts: Central Nervous System (CNS) Brain and spinal cord Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Carries messages to and from CNS

The Nervous System: It breaks down into two parts. Central nervous system Bloom, Nelson, and Lazerson, Brain, Mind, and Behavior Introduction to the Nervous System Figure 1.03 Peripheral nervous system

Discovering PSY p. 55 Figure 2.11

Discovering PSY p. 55 Figure 2.11

Discovering PSY p. 55 Figure 2.11

Discovering PSY p. 55 Figure 2.11

Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the nervous system Kolb & Whishaw, An Introduction to Brain and Behavior How is the Brain Organized? Figure 2.29 Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the nervous system

Summary of autonomic differences Autonomic nervous system controls physiological arousal Sympathetic division (arousing) Parasympathetic division (calming) Pupils dilate EYES Pupils contract Decreases SALIVATION Increases Perspires SKIN Dries Increases RESPERATION Decreases Accelerates HEART Slows Inhibits DIGESTION Activates Secrete stress hormones ADRENAL GLANDS Decrease secretion of stress hormones key words: sympathetic nervous system; parasympathetic nervous system

But how much does this affect our behavior? What happens to people if they receive hugs while doing something stressful? How does this relate to the automatic nervous system? Do you think that this means people are unable to control their behavior? Name one profession and explain how they could use this theory to their benefit