BEH 225 ALL DQ’S WEEKS ONE THROUGH
NINE BEH 225 ALL DQ’S WEEKS ONE
THROUGH NINE
WEEK 1
DQ 1
Consider the statement “psychology has a long past but a short
history.” What do you think this means? In your opinion, which
person or perspective has had the most influence on the growth of
psychology?
That statement means that psychology has been around for a long
time but was never socially accepted and practiced until later. The
author is commenting ironically upon the fact that millions of
persons experienced or suffered psychological problems for
thousands of years before today. He's saying that there have been
recognized psychological shortcomings, behaviors and problems
across 12 millennia; but that attempts to study individual and
categorical psychological states and conditions seriously only began
in the 19th Century, and even then were not very successful at all.
In my opinion, (The long past) there have been psychological issues
throughout the history of human kind but (the short history) as a
science, Psychology is very young. So it’s the history of the STUDY
of psychology itself that is short, not psychology in and of itself.
In your opinion, which person or perspective has had the most
influence on the growth of psychology?
Psychology, the study of human behavior, actually is a very recent development when
compared to human history. Dr Freud is generally credited for a documented attempt to
understand human behavior and psychoanalysis. The most influential person in terms of
psychology by influence was Sigmund Freud, hands down.
DQ 2
How do you think gender, race, and ethnicity have affected your behavior? Provide an
example from your life where you have observed people from different ethnic
backgrounds or genders behaving differently in the same situation.
Individuals of different ethnicity and ages vary when it comes to behavior.
Gender - Men and women differ in the way they deal with a host of situations. An easy
example would be that a male response to a stressful situation would be fight or flight.
This is a typically, male, aggressive response. A woman's response on the other hand
would be to tend and befriend. This is a typically female, nurturing response. This
tendency to be nurturing versus being aggressive is generalized to many situations.
With the changes in the woman's status in society however we are seeing gender role
reversals.
Race - One of the classic examples of differences in race and ethnicity comes from the
differences between the eastern traditions and the western traditions. The west is more
of an individualistic society leading to choices and behaviors that reflect this
individualism. The East is more of a traditional society and this is also reflected in their
behavior. An Asian for example would behave more formally in the presence of elders,
,while an American would be as candid with a senior citizen
,as he would be with his classmate. Formality in behavior would be dictated more by
status in society than by age in America and vice versa in Asia.
Ethnicity - Members of the same ethnic group share the same cultural values. It is
therefore obvious that different cultures will have different practices which will be
reflected in the behavior of group members. Examples would be certain rituals followed,
and may or may not include religion.
I cannot say off the top of my head an example from my life where I have observed
differnt ethnic backgrounds or genders behaving differently in the same situation
except for maybe at the Government Aid offices like Children and Families or Wic.
WK 2 CHECKPOINT
BEH 225
Checkpoint: Heredity and Hormones
Write 350- to 700-word essay in which you compare and contrast the influence of
heredity and hormones on human behavior. Include in your essay a discussion on the
endocrine system, identification of hormones and the glands responsible for secreting
them, and genetics, behavior genetics, and evolutionary psychology.
Heredity and hormones can both influence an individual’s behavior. Heredity is the
passing of traits from a parent to their offspring. Determining how much heredity and
genetics plays a role in a person’s behavior brings up the controversy of nature versus
nurture. Scientists have attempted to identify specific genes that may be responsible
for behaviors such as aggression, shyness, depression, anxiety, and risk-taking. Studies
involving twins have attempted to correlate genetics and behavior, though in those
cases, the researchers were not looking for a particular gene, but for similarities within
families (Morris and Maisto, 2005).
Hormones, chemicals that are released from certain cells within the body and
affect other parts of the body as part of the endocrine system, also play a role in a
person’s behavior by determining mood. The endocrine system consists of glands such
as the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the hypothalamus, the pineal body, the
adrenal glands, and the ovaries and testes.
The thyroid gland secretes Triodothyronine which is responsible for metabolic
rates. If a person has a hyperthyroid condition in which too much of the hormone is
secreted, the person can become over-excited and agitated, thus, affecting behavior.
The testes in males secrete the hormone testosterone which has been linked to the
behavior of aggression. Women also have small quantities of testosterone that fluctuate
and at times when the levels are higher may exhibit more aggressive behaviors as well.
Female ovaries secrete the hormone estrogen. As the levels of estrogen fluctuate each
month, a female may at times feel depressed, fatigued, irritable, or energized. The
pancreas produces insulin, which is responsible for the breakdown of sugars. When not
enough insulin is produced, a condition known as hypoglycemia occurs, a person’s
behavior may be altered and they may seem confused, tired, and irritable (Morris and
Maisto, 2005).
Evolutionary psychology is a field of study that seeks to explain psychological
traits in terms of genetics. These researchers contend that certain behaviors are the
product of evolutionary (genetic) adaptations. Behavioral genetics studies the role that
genes play in a person’s behavior. The field has changed over the years from
determining if there was an influence to today’s study of molecular genetics to
determine which genes are responsible for certain behaviors (Morris and Maisto, 2005).
Reference
Morris, C. and Maisto, A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction (12th Ed.). Prentice
, Hall. ASSIGNMENT BRAIN RESPONSE APPENDIX C
NINE BEH 225 ALL DQ’S WEEKS ONE
THROUGH NINE
WEEK 1
DQ 1
Consider the statement “psychology has a long past but a short
history.” What do you think this means? In your opinion, which
person or perspective has had the most influence on the growth of
psychology?
That statement means that psychology has been around for a long
time but was never socially accepted and practiced until later. The
author is commenting ironically upon the fact that millions of
persons experienced or suffered psychological problems for
thousands of years before today. He's saying that there have been
recognized psychological shortcomings, behaviors and problems
across 12 millennia; but that attempts to study individual and
categorical psychological states and conditions seriously only began
in the 19th Century, and even then were not very successful at all.
In my opinion, (The long past) there have been psychological issues
throughout the history of human kind but (the short history) as a
science, Psychology is very young. So it’s the history of the STUDY
of psychology itself that is short, not psychology in and of itself.
In your opinion, which person or perspective has had the most
influence on the growth of psychology?
Psychology, the study of human behavior, actually is a very recent development when
compared to human history. Dr Freud is generally credited for a documented attempt to
understand human behavior and psychoanalysis. The most influential person in terms of
psychology by influence was Sigmund Freud, hands down.
DQ 2
How do you think gender, race, and ethnicity have affected your behavior? Provide an
example from your life where you have observed people from different ethnic
backgrounds or genders behaving differently in the same situation.
Individuals of different ethnicity and ages vary when it comes to behavior.
Gender - Men and women differ in the way they deal with a host of situations. An easy
example would be that a male response to a stressful situation would be fight or flight.
This is a typically, male, aggressive response. A woman's response on the other hand
would be to tend and befriend. This is a typically female, nurturing response. This
tendency to be nurturing versus being aggressive is generalized to many situations.
With the changes in the woman's status in society however we are seeing gender role
reversals.
Race - One of the classic examples of differences in race and ethnicity comes from the
differences between the eastern traditions and the western traditions. The west is more
of an individualistic society leading to choices and behaviors that reflect this
individualism. The East is more of a traditional society and this is also reflected in their
behavior. An Asian for example would behave more formally in the presence of elders,
,while an American would be as candid with a senior citizen
,as he would be with his classmate. Formality in behavior would be dictated more by
status in society than by age in America and vice versa in Asia.
Ethnicity - Members of the same ethnic group share the same cultural values. It is
therefore obvious that different cultures will have different practices which will be
reflected in the behavior of group members. Examples would be certain rituals followed,
and may or may not include religion.
I cannot say off the top of my head an example from my life where I have observed
differnt ethnic backgrounds or genders behaving differently in the same situation
except for maybe at the Government Aid offices like Children and Families or Wic.
WK 2 CHECKPOINT
BEH 225
Checkpoint: Heredity and Hormones
Write 350- to 700-word essay in which you compare and contrast the influence of
heredity and hormones on human behavior. Include in your essay a discussion on the
endocrine system, identification of hormones and the glands responsible for secreting
them, and genetics, behavior genetics, and evolutionary psychology.
Heredity and hormones can both influence an individual’s behavior. Heredity is the
passing of traits from a parent to their offspring. Determining how much heredity and
genetics plays a role in a person’s behavior brings up the controversy of nature versus
nurture. Scientists have attempted to identify specific genes that may be responsible
for behaviors such as aggression, shyness, depression, anxiety, and risk-taking. Studies
involving twins have attempted to correlate genetics and behavior, though in those
cases, the researchers were not looking for a particular gene, but for similarities within
families (Morris and Maisto, 2005).
Hormones, chemicals that are released from certain cells within the body and
affect other parts of the body as part of the endocrine system, also play a role in a
person’s behavior by determining mood. The endocrine system consists of glands such
as the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the hypothalamus, the pineal body, the
adrenal glands, and the ovaries and testes.
The thyroid gland secretes Triodothyronine which is responsible for metabolic
rates. If a person has a hyperthyroid condition in which too much of the hormone is
secreted, the person can become over-excited and agitated, thus, affecting behavior.
The testes in males secrete the hormone testosterone which has been linked to the
behavior of aggression. Women also have small quantities of testosterone that fluctuate
and at times when the levels are higher may exhibit more aggressive behaviors as well.
Female ovaries secrete the hormone estrogen. As the levels of estrogen fluctuate each
month, a female may at times feel depressed, fatigued, irritable, or energized. The
pancreas produces insulin, which is responsible for the breakdown of sugars. When not
enough insulin is produced, a condition known as hypoglycemia occurs, a person’s
behavior may be altered and they may seem confused, tired, and irritable (Morris and
Maisto, 2005).
Evolutionary psychology is a field of study that seeks to explain psychological
traits in terms of genetics. These researchers contend that certain behaviors are the
product of evolutionary (genetic) adaptations. Behavioral genetics studies the role that
genes play in a person’s behavior. The field has changed over the years from
determining if there was an influence to today’s study of molecular genetics to
determine which genes are responsible for certain behaviors (Morris and Maisto, 2005).
Reference
Morris, C. and Maisto, A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction (12th Ed.). Prentice
, Hall. ASSIGNMENT BRAIN RESPONSE APPENDIX C
