Heredity_and_Hormones

Heredity and Hormones BEH/ 225 Laura Jones Gigi Sofia February 25, 2010 Axia College of the University of Phoenix The endocrine system plays an important role in helping to coordinate and integrate complex psychological reactions. The nervous system and endocrine system work together in a constant manner. Chemicals from both systems work together to make the functions in the body work correctly (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Chemical substances called hormones are released from the endocrine gland and are carried through the bloodstream. Hormones are like neurotransmitters, carrying messages to different areas of the body. One difference between the nervous and endocrine systems is the speed at which they travel because hormones travel through the bloodstream it takes longer. Hormones take up to a few minutes to reach where they are going where a nerve only takes a few hundredths of a second (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Hormones interest psychologists because at different developing stages of the body, hormones play a role in keeping the nervous system and body tissues organized. At the start of puberty, hormones rage and tell the body to start making breasts in females, deeper voice in males and hair in the pubic area and underarms in both male and females.. Hormones can also affect moods, emotional reactivity, and learning ability (Morris & Maisto, 2005). In the endocrine system there are different glands that control different functions in the body. The thyroid gland produces thyroxin. Thyroxin keeps the body’s metabolism working correctly. Having an overactive thyroid can make a person tired, not be able to sleep, not be able to concentrate, and irritable. When the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroxin a person can feel the need to constantly sleep, or constantly feeling tired. Parathyroid’s, tiny organs in the thyroid gland, control and balance the levels of calcium and phosphate and control the levels of excitability (Morris & Maisto, 2005). The pineal gland which is located in the very small (pea sized) and is located in the middle of the brain. This gland releases melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep/ wake cycle (Morris & Maisto, 2005). The pancreas controls the sugar in the body by releasing two hormones, insulin and glucagon. These two hormones work against each other to keep the blood sugar under control. If either quit working, you could end up with diabetes or hypoglycemia (Morris & Maisto, 2005). The pituitary gland is often called the “master gland.” (Morris & Maisto, 2005) It can be called that since it makes the most different hormones and has the largest effects on the body. It “influences blood pressure, thirst, contractions of the uterus during childbirth, milk production, sexual behavior and interest, body growth, the amount of water in the body’s cells, along with others.” (Morris & Maisto, 2005) Gonads release hormones, estrogen (female) and androgens (male). Both are released in both sexes and play an important role in organization. (Morris and Maisto, 2005) The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and affect reactions to stress. Separated into two parts: “an inner core, or the adrenal medulla, and an outer layer, called the adrenal cortex” (Morris &Maisto, 2005). . Heredity is a large factor on a person’s mental state as well. A person can genetically inherit mental disorders. A hereditary trait that is affected by hormones is your skin. You inherit freckles, and being prone to acne at any age (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Behavior genetics and environment go hand in hand. Behavior can changed to adapt to the environment around the person and this controls the way a person reacts (Morris & Maisto, 2005). Evolutionary psychology studies natural selection. ‘Natural selection therefore promotes the survival and reproduction of individuals who are genetically well adapted to their particular environment” (Morris &Maisto, 2005). As we conclude, we can see that hormones and heredity play a key role in everyday function of life. Reference Morris, C.G., & Maisto, A.A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.