Biopsychology: The Basics

Citation

Winn, P., & Grealy, M. (2024). Biopsychology: The Basics. Routledge.

Chapter Summary

The book has an introduction and eight chapters in about 206 pages, with eight black-and-white illustrations, followed by a glossary, further reading, references and an index. Routledge describes it as a concise, accessible introduction to biopsychology. It says the book explores what psychology is in the broadest sense and how combining it with a biological perspective gives a deeper understanding of behaviour and mental life. The publisher's topic list runs from the interaction of biology and psychology and the biology of the brain and how to study it, through physiological processes, the effects of drugs, genes and environment in development, cognition, emotion, motivation and communication, to the biological basis of psychopathologies and the biopsychology of consciousness. The chapter titles below come from the contents list; the comments rest on the publisher's list of topics.

Introduction: What is biopsychology?

The opening section defines the field. According to the publisher, it addresses what psychology is in the broadest sense and how a biological perspective adds to it, and it explains the interaction between biology and psychology.

Chapter 1: The brain and how to get at it

The first chapter covers the brain and the methods used to study it, matching the topic "the biology of the brain and how to study it".

Chapter 2: Physiology for psychologists

This chapter is on the physiology that psychologists need. The publisher links it to how psychological states are related to physiological processes.

Chapter 3: The chemistry of the brain: Psychopharmacology

Chapter 3 turns to brain chemistry and psychopharmacology. The publisher's list mentions the effects of drugs, both therapeutic and recreational, on behaviour and psychology.

Chapter 4: Development

The fourth chapter is on development. The publisher says the book looks at how genes and the environment affect psychological development.

Chapter 5: Cognition

Chapter 5 covers cognition. The publisher describes it as the biopsychology of cognition.

Chapter 6: Emotions, motivation and communication

The sixth chapter treats emotions, motivation and communication. The publisher frames this part as "people in the world", understanding emotions, motivation and communication.

Chapter 7: Psychopathologies

Chapter 7 deals with psychopathologies. The publisher says it concerns the biological basis of these conditions: their causes, diagnoses and treatments.

Chapter 8: Overall, what does biopsychology offer?

The final chapter steps back to assess the contribution of the biological approach. The publisher's list also includes explanations, mechanisms and the biopsychology of consciousness, but the contents list has no separate chapter on consciousness.

Key Concepts

Introduction and Chapters 1–2: Foundations

• Biopsychology: the combination of psychology with a biological perspective on behaviour and mental life.
• The brain and methods for studying it: Chapter 1.
• Physiology for psychologists: the bodily processes related to psychological states (Chapter 2).

Chapters 3–5: Drugs, development and cognition

• Psychopharmacology: the chemistry of the brain and the effects of drugs (Chapter 3).
• Development: the role of genes and environment (Chapter 4).
• Cognition: Chapter 5.

Chapters 6–8: Emotion, disorder and evaluation

• Emotions, motivation and communication: Chapter 6.
• Psychopathologies: causes, diagnoses and treatments (Chapter 7).
• What biopsychology offers: the evaluation in Chapter 8.

Critical Analysis

Strengths

• Built for newcomers. The publisher says the book is an ideal introduction for those coming to the subject for the first time, and the title "Physiology for psychologists" shows that biology is presented with the psychology student in mind.
• Psychology and biology in one frame. The publisher states that the book explores psychology broadly and shows how a biological perspective deepens it, rather than treating the brain on its own.
• A topic range that goes beyond the brain. The contents list extends from the brain and physiology through drugs and development to cognition, emotion and psychopathology.
• Reference aids. An extensive glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading are listed by the publisher.
• Authors with relevant backgrounds. Philip Winn is Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience and Madeleine Grealy is Professor of Psychology, both at the University of Strathclyde.

Limitations

• Concise by design. About 206 pages across an introduction and eight chapters leaves little room for neuroanatomical detail or experimental evidence, so it will not replace a full textbook.
• Few visuals. The publisher lists eight black-and-white illustrations, which is a small number for a subject in which diagrams of anatomy and pathways are usually central.
• No advertised exercises. The publisher mentions a glossary and further reading but no review questions or online resources.
• Consciousness has no chapter title. The publisher lists the biopsychology of consciousness among the topics, but the contents list has no chapter named for it.

Where It Fits in the Course

This is the shortest and most general of the biological psychology books in the course. Kalat's Biological Psychology and Pinel and Barnes's Biopsychology are full undergraduate textbooks that go from neurons and neuroanatomy through sensory and motor systems to sleep, emotion, memory and psychiatric disorders. Winn and Grealy's book can be read before either, or beside them as an orienting overview.

Passingham's Cognitive Neuroscience: A Very Short Introduction is a brief account of how scientists link mental functions to the working brain, and so is a natural companion to Chapters 1 and 5. Nelson and Kriegsfeld's An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology deals with hormones and behaviour, and Kandel and colleagues' Principles of Neural Science is a large reference work for readers who want the neuroscience in full.

How to Use This Book

The book is for students who are new to biopsychology and for general readers with no background in biology or psychology. Some school-level science helps.

A practical plan:

• Read the introduction and Chapters 1 to 3 first, since they set out the field, the brain, the physiology and brain chemistry before the topic chapters begin.
• Take Chapters 4 to 7 by interest or by course week: development, cognition, emotion and motivation, and psychopathology each deal with one area of behaviour.
• End with Chapter 8, which assesses what the biological approach contributes.
• Use the glossary to master terms before moving to a full textbook, and the further-reading list to choose it.