This essay explains the interaction between hormones and behavior and how this interaction affects the determination of adult sexuality.
Hormones can be defined as a chemical release which amends the metabolism. They normally play a huge role in the human body. There are various distinct glands of the body which secrete diverse hormones which are very significant to the functioning of the body system. Also, hormones indicates body changes and each an every hormone has a precise functionality, and this is where hormones interact with behaviors. (William, B. 2005)
Interaction between hormones and behavior
The field of study that explores the interaction between hormones and behavior is called behavioral endocrinology. Here are some key points:
- Bidirectional Interaction: Hormones can influence behavior, and behavior can sometimes influence hormone concentrations12. For instance, hormones released from endocrine glands travel through the blood system to regulate behaviors like aggression, mating, and parenting.
- Sex Differentiation: Hormones play a crucial role in behavioral sex differentiation. They contribute to the development of male and female characteristics and behaviors.
- Aggressive Behavior: Anabolic steroid hormones are associated with aggression. Administration of artificial steroid hormones can lead to uncontrollable, violent behavior known as “roid rage.”
- Parental Behavior: Hormones also influence parental behavior. For example, maternal instincts may be mediated by hormonal changes.
A particular cell can release a hormone which will affect another cell for particular aim. Hormones are been released by all living beings, that is plant and animals. The types of cells which release hormones are the ovaries, thyroid glands, pituitary glands and the endocrine system. The major purpose of the hormone is releasing signals for a certain role to be carried out. This major function are linked to the body, such as walking, sleeping, and each an every metal or physical action that occurs.
In most cases, hormones normally intermingle with the proteins in order to form the receptors. The thyroid glands or the pituitary gland normally releases a certain hormones which are useful in promoting a specific behavior. This relationship betwixt behavior patterns and hormones patterns can be examined mostly in women. Women usually pass on through various distinct stages of life, such as puberty, menopause and perimenopause. During this period, hormones get altered. Women psychology is also impacted by hormones during these stages. The behaviors patterns, such as anxiety, suspicious, hastiness, impatient and eagerness can also be observed in both women and men. This might be direct been caused by the changes of hormones in the body.
Moreover, hormones have a potential of affecting the neurons which are in the brain cell, hence resulting to a certain behavior patterns. But all in all, these hormones are extremely vital to the functioning of various body systems including immune system of the body. During adulthood stages, adults behaviors changes a lot, and the hormones released are definitely more. These changes of hormones and behaviors can lead to sexuality, and this is why majority of teenagers are sexually active because of the hormones and behavior influence.
Some common misconceptions about hormone-behavior interactions
- Direct Causation: One common misconception is that hormones directly cause specific behaviors. In reality, the relationship is often more complex. Hormones can influence behavior, but behavior can also affect hormone levels.
- Single Hormone Dominance: Another misconception is that a single hormone dominates behavior. In truth, behavior is influenced by a network of hormones working together. For example, testosterone alone doesn’t solely determine aggression; other factors play a role.
- Gender Stereotypes: People sometimes assume that certain behaviors are solely due to sex hormones (e.g., estrogen for nurturing behavior). However, behavior is influenced by a combination of biological, social, and environmental factors.
- Static Effects: Hormone-behavior interactions are dynamic. Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day, affecting behavior differently at different times. It’s not a fixed, static relationship.
Understanding hormone-behavior interactions requires considering multiple factors and avoiding oversimplification.
Biological psychology processes and sexual differentiation
The development procedure of the dissimilarities betwixt females and males from an undifferentiated fertilized egg (zygote) is known as sexual differentiation. During this period of male and female developing individually from zygote into fetuses, infants, children adolescents and finally into adults, gender and sex dissimilarities normally develop genes, hormones, chromosomes, genes, anatomy, psyche, gonads, and socio behaviors.
The initial stages of a human being differentiation tend to appear equivalent to the biological processes of other mammals, and this can be observed through the development and interaction of hormones, genes, and the body structure. During the first week of life, a fetus does not have an anatomic or hormonal sex, but you can differentiate between male and female through karyotype. There are certain genes which stimulate gonadal differences, which cause anatomic differences and the growth of hormonal differences, therefore resulting to behavior and psychological differences, some of them are induced by the social environment or innate. The association of biological factors and human aspects of differentiation, and particularly the means and the degrees by which environmental and social influences adds to behavioral and psychological differentiation.
The differentiation of sex steroid in adult reproductive, among other behavior has been examined through experimental in many animals. In a number of mammals, adult sex-dimorphic reproductive behavior (for example receptive or mounting) can be transferred to another sex through deprivation or supplementation of androgens in early infancy or fetal life, notwithstanding if the level of adults is normal.
During childhood and adulthoods, there a lot of behavioral and psychological sex differences, both dimorphic and dichotomous. Some (for example dress) are obviously culture or learned. Others (for example spatial reasoning, early verbal fluency) are verifiable across cultures and might have both learned and biological determinants. Since we can’t investigate hormonal influences on the experimental of human reproductive behavior, and also the political potential implications are not welcomed in a lot of society faction. The comparative donations of biological factors and learning to behavior differences and human psychological, particularly gender identity, orientation, and role, remained controversial and unsettled.
How do hormones affect mood and emotions?
Hormones play a significant role in shaping our mood and emotions. Let’s explore some key hormones and their impact:
- Serotonin: This neurotransmitter regulates mood and behavior. Imbalances are linked to conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD.
- Dopamine: Involved in mood and emotions, dopamine also plays a role in our brain’s reward system.
- Cortisol: As a stress hormone, cortisol activates our “fight or flight” response. It affects heart rate, breathing, and overall stress levels.
- Thyroid Hormones: These influence metabolism, heart function, and muscles. Too little or too much thyroid hormone can lead to depression and anxiety symptoms.
- Sex Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone (for women) fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, impacting mood and emotions. Testosterone (for men) also affects mood and behavior.
Maintaining hormonal balance is crucial for overall well-being.
Key biological changes in sexual development
During this stage, there are a lot of biological changes which occurs rapidly, mainly because of genetic and environmental factors. In boys, sexual development changes starts with scrotum and testes enlargement, followed by penis lengthening and the enlargement of prostate and seminal vesicles. Afterward, public hair appears. The facial hair and axillaries normally appears about two years after pubic hair. After one year of testes enlargement, the spurt begins to grow. The initial ejaculation normally occurs one year after penis enlargement. Finally, the gynecomastia which appears in a form of breast buds normally occurs within several years.
In girls, the first physical sign is breast budding and sexual maturation, followed by spurt growth. Afterward, axillary and pubic hair appears. Menarche appears two year after breast growth and its growth decrease when reaching the peak. Menarche appears betwixt 12 and 13 years.
Sexual development encompasses various biological changes that occur throughout an individual’s life. Let’s explore some key milestones:
- Infancy: Even before birth, boys and girls are capable of erections and vaginal lubrication1. Sensations related to sexuality begin to form during infancy.
- Childhood: Childhood experiences shape our personalities and behavior. According to Freud’s psychosexual stages, pleasure-seeking urges are focused on different erogenous zones during each stage of development. These stages influence our sexual development.
- Adolescence: In response to pituitary gonadotropins, the ovaries in girls and the testes in boys grow, leading to increased production of sex steroids like estradiol and testosterone3. Secondary sexual characteristics emerge during this phase.
- Adulthood: Throughout adulthood, sexual values, attitudes, and behaviors are expressed within various contexts—single living, cohabitation, marriage, extramarital relationships, divorce, aging, and widowhood. Sexuality remains a dynamic aspect of life.
Sexuality is present in some form from birth, and our relationships with our bodies evolve as we age.