Biopsychology: The Endocrine System

Question 1

What Is The Endocrine System?

Answer 1

• Works alongside the nervous system to control vital functions. However is much slower but has very widespread and powerful effects.
• Body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the blood stream.
• These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body.

Question 2

What Are Glands?

Answer 2

• An organ in the body that syntheses (makes) substances such as hormones.

Question 3

What Are Hormones?

Answer 3

• Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs.
• They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly.
• Have powerful effects.

Question 4

Gland - Pituitary Gland: Hormones And Impact

Answer 4

• Hormones Released: Lots
• Sometimes known as the master gland.
• Hormones which are released, control and stimulate the release of other hormones from other glands in the endocrine system. Located in the brain.

Question 5

Gland - Pineal Gland: Hormones And Impact.

Answer 5

• Hormones Released: Melatonin

- Responsible for biological rhythms including the sleep-wake cycle. (Circadian Rhythm).

Question 6

Gland - Thyroid Gland: Hormones And Impact.

Answer 6

• Hormones Released: Thyroxine

- Responsible for regulating metabolism.

Question 7

Gland - Testes: Hormones And Impact.

Answer 7

• Hormones Released: Testosterone

- Responsible for the development of male sex characteristic during puberty while also promoting muscle growth.

Question 8

Gland - Ovaries: Hormones And Impact.

Answer 8

• Hormones Released: Oestrogen

- Controls regulation of the female reproductive system, including the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

Question 9

Gland - Adrenal Gland: Hormones And Impact.

Answer 9

• Hormones Released: Adrenaline
• Responsible for fight or flight response, stimulates the heart rate, contract blood vessels, and dilates air passages among other impacts.

Question 10

Gland - Pancreas: Hormones And Impact.

Answer 10

• Hormones Released: Insulin
• Allows body to use glucose from carbohydrates in food for energy or to store glucose for future use. Helps keep blood levels stable.

Question 11

The Fight Or Flight Response

Answer 11

• The response is the way an animal responds whens stressed.
• Body becomes psychologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or flee.
• The response is reflexive meaning it occurs without conscious awareness or thought.

Question 12

The Fight Or Flight Response Stages.

Answer 12

1) Hypothalamus (area in brain) recognises a threat in the environment.
2) ANS activates the sympathetic NS.
3) Sympathetic NS tells the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).
4) Sends a message to the adrenal gland.
5) Adrenal gland respond by releasing adrenaline.
6) Adrenaline via the bloodstream and targets organs in the body which have adrenaline receptors.
7) Causes many physical changes.
8) Once the threat has passed, the Parasympathetic NS brings the body back to normal resting function.

Question 13

Fight Or Flight Evaluation - Limitation: Freeze Response.

Answer 13

• Some psychologist suggests that humans engage in an initial ‘freeze’ response.
• Gray (1988) suggests that the first response to danger is to avoid confrontation altogether (freeze).
• During the freeze response animals and humans are hyper-vigilant (very aware), while they appraise (analyse) the situation to decide the best course of action for that particular threat.
• This suggests that the fight or flight response considered is limited as it does not explain all the outcomes.

Question 14

Fight Or Flight Evaluation - Limitation: Tend And Befriend Response.

Answer 14

• More recent research suggests that females adopt a ‘tend and befriend’ response in stressful/dangerous situations.
• Taylor et al (2000) found women are more likely to protect their offspring (tend) and form alliances with other women (befriend), rather than fight an adversary or flee.
• The fight or flight response is therefore typically a male response to danger.

Question 15

Fight Or Flight Evaluation - Limitation: Beta Biased.

Answer 15

• Early research into the fight or flight response was typically conducted on males.
• This is known as androcentrism.
• Researchers assumed that the findings could be generalised to females.
• This is an example of beta bias, under-estimating the differences between the sexes reducing the explanatory power of the fight or flight response.
• This shows that the fight or flight explanation cannot be applied to all individuals in the same way.

Question 16

Fight Or Flight Evaluation - Limitation: Maladaptive Response.

Answer 16

• The stressors of modern-day life can repeatedly `activate the fight or flight response.
• Humans who face a lot of stress and continually activate the sympathetic nervous system, continually increase their blood pressure which can damage to their blood vessels and heart disease.
• This suggests that fight or flight response is a maladaptive response in modern-day life.

Question 17

Fight Or Flight Evaluation - Limitation: Biological Reductionist.

Answer 17

• The fight or flight response is biologically reductionists.
• It attempts to explain human behaviour based on the role of adrenaline and the effect of the sympathetic nervous system.
• It does not account for any other elements that could influence a response to a stressful such as cognitive processes it may therefore be too limited explanation.