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....