The role of hormones on behaviour (pack 1) Flashcards
what are the 5 main parts of the endocrine system
1) Testes
2) Ovaries
3) Adrenal gland
4) pituitary gland
5) hypothalamus
what are hormones
chemical messengers that are secreted by glands
how do hormones work?
passed through the blood stream until they reach a particular destination and binds to receptors on target cells specific to the hormone
what are the three interacting physical processes that human behaviour is influenced by?
sensory input- by the senses
integration- by the CNS
motor output- by muscles (effectors)
what can hormones change
the probability a behaviour will happen in certain situations and the intensity
how are sensor systems influenced by hormones
hormones can change how we perceive the environment
oxytocin released after baby is born so perception of pain is reduced so can keep reproducing
how are integration systems influenced by hormones
making neurons more or less sensitive
e.g- make them fire more often
how are effector systems influenced by hormones
the way your body develops
anabolic steroids
what are the 3 stages of life that hormones can effect?
the womb
during early childhood
puberty and adulthood
how do hormones affect development in the womb
development of the brain is influenced by reproductive hormones
impact on sex differences
how do hormones affect development during early childhood
exposed to a stressful environment, they release a stress hormone
cortisol represses the immune system can impact development of the brain
how do hormones affect development during puberty and adulthood
changes in our body and mood
brain is changing in adulthood
hormonal imbalances can result in being more prone to depression etc.
One strengths of hormones as an explanation for behaviour
the research linking has high scientific credibility because it is standardised and objective such as blood tests and this gives high VALIDITY to the measures such as oxytocin and mood
three weaknesses of hormones as an explanation of behaviour
ETHICS as protection of ppt from harm is paramount, researchers can’t carry out experiments where they manipulate hormone levels…so correlational research used so cause and effect CANNOT be inferred
There are practical problems is designing and implementing…other variables would have to be controlled
AND
longitudinal research is rarely carried out due to cost
reductionism… oversimplifying highly complex biological mechanisms and researchers overlook the importance of environmental and social interactions
