Role of hormones in human behaviour (3) Flashcards
What is the hormone for aggression?
Testosterone
What evidence is there testosterone causes aggression?
Men have much more testosterone and 95% of the prison population are men.
Name some hormones:
Testosterone Oestrogen Progesterone Serotonin Cortisol
What does cortisol do?
Cortisol plays a major role in reducing stress.
What effect does stress have on the body?
Stress has a very negative effect on the immune system
Define hormones?
Hormones are chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced by glands in large quantities but disappear quickly.
Where are hormones made?
Endocrine glands manufacture a variety of hormones and secrete them directly into the bloodstream. Different hormones affect different cells and organs.
Evaluating the role of hormones in human behaviour: Research support
Dabbs and Hargrove (1997) tested the saliva of 87 female inmates and found all of them had high testosterone levels. Similar experiments found high testosterone in many male inmates
Evaluating the role of hormones in human behaviour: Measuring testosterone
An issue with measuring testosterone is it can fluctuate hugely in a person based on many things. People have a baseline testosterone which is a kind of average however this can change significantly over time
Evaluating the role of hormones in human behaviour: Application to controlling aggression
Understanding testosterones impact could allow people to try to regulate it if necessary and it could able certain individuals to cope better in society.
How are hormones Carried Around?
They are Carried in the Blood, and Operate All Around the Body
They take longer to work than neurotransmitters, and tend to be used to affect longer-term changes
What are Hormones?
Chemical Messages that Transmit Information around the Body
Where are Hormones Produced?
They’re Produced + Excreted by Glands; and the System of Glands is called the Endocrine System.
What is Oxytocin?
Released by the Posterior Pituitary Gland
Shown to Increase Trust between People
How do Hormones do within in the Body?
Hormones affect behaviour, and cause Physical Changes in the body
What is Testosterone?
An Androgen; which is a chemical that develops/ maintains male characteristics
We all have testosterone in our bodies, but it is much more present in Males than females.
What is Antenatal Exposure to Testosterone?
Antenatal exposure to testosterone has an organising effect on the developing brain, leading to increased spatial ability and (arguably) competitive aggression.
Following birth, testosterone sensitises certain neural circuits- e.g. stimulates cell growth in areas of the hypothalamus and amygdala, this affects aggression as an adult
What research supports antenatal exposure to testosterone?
Research on rodents support this:
1. Castration effectively stops testosterone production,and leads to little/no aggressive behaviour. However, if testosterone is injected afterwards, they’ll show aggression
- Testosterone injection in newborns will have a limited effect on their aggression. However, in those aged 10 days old, the replacement testosterone brings the level of aggression back up to normal for uncastrated rodents.
- Injecting neonatal female rodents with testosterone made them act more aggressively when given testosterone as adults, compared to control females
What is Adrenaline, and where is it produced?
Adrenaline is produced in the medulla in the adrenal glands, as well as some of the central nervous system’s neurons.
Within a couple of minutes during a stressful situation, adrenaline is quickly released into the blood, sending impulses to organs to create a specific response.
How does Adrenaline affect behaviour?
Adrenaline triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response
The body’s ability to feel pain also decreases as a result of adrenaline
Adrenaline causes a noticeable increase in strength and performance, as well as heightened awareness, in stressful times. 75
