Hormones

I.B. Learning Outcome  B7- Using one or more examples, explain functions of two hormones in human behavior.  I can explain the difference between a neurotransmitter and hormone.  I can explain the impact that oxytocin and cortisol have on human behavior.

Hormones  Chemical substances, secreted by organs call glands, that affect the functioning of other organs.

Hormones vs. Neurotransmitters  Neurotransmitters are released in the brain  Hormones are released by glands in the body.  When hormones are active in the brain, they serve as neurotransmitters…

Example #1: Cortisol  Stress hormone  Produced in adrenal gland  When under stress, it increases arousal level and prepares you for action.  Pupils Dilate, Heart beats faster, blood-sugar levels rise, digestion slows down.

Example #2: Oxytocin  Released by the pituitary gland.  Only exists in mammals.  Acts primarily as a neurotransmitter.  Involved in building bonds, trust, and generosity.  The coolest hormone ever! The coolest hormone ever!

Ditzen (2013)  Hormone: Oxytocin  Aim: To determine the impact of oxytocin on couples’ communication.  Method: Had couples either spray oxytocin or a placebo up their nose and engage in a high stress conversation.

Ditzen (2013) Continued  Findings:  Oxytocin improved communication and lowered levels of cortisol.  Women: showed less social stress  Men: showed more social stress and were more engaged in the conversation (Eye contact, smiling, etc.)  Conclusions: Oxytocin impacts the ways that couples communicate.

Newcomer et al (1999)  Hormone: Cortisol  Aim: To determine the role of cortisol on memory.  Method: Double-Blind study that had asked three groups to take varying levels of cortisol over a four day period and tested their ability to remember verbal information. 1. High Level: Tablet of 160 mg Cortisol each day…simulates a major stressful event. 2. Low Level: Tablet of 40 mg of Cortisol each day…Simulated a minor stressful event. 3. Placebo: Tablet with no active ingredient.

Newcomer et al. (1999) continued  Findings:  The High Level group performed worse on the memory test than the Low Level group.  The Low Level group showed no memory decrease when compared with the placebo group.  Conclusions: High Levels of cortisol have a negative impact on a person’s ability to recall verbal data.

Using one or more examples, explain functions of two hormones in human behaviour. (8) Explain (8) – Detailed account including reasons or causes.

Schachter and Singer (1962) – the two factor theory of emotion [adrenaline]

Schachter and Singer (1962) – the two factor theory of emotion Aims: To test the two factor theory of emotion (that emotion arises from a combination of a cognition and arousal), using the hormone, adrenaline. Methods: Test 184 college males Divided into 4 groups All groups were told that they were going to be given an injection of Suproxin in order to test its effect on vision Even though men were really receiving adrenaline First three groups were given an injection of adrenaline Last group was given a placebo 4 Groups divided into 2 subgroups Condition 1 - euphoria Confederate encouraged participant to play with games inside the waiting room (with office equipment) Condition 2 - anger Confederate completed a questionnaire at the same pace as the participant but became more and more angry as the questions became more personal Participants were either informed of the correct effects of adrenaline (under the impression that it was suproxin) or given no information at all Control group was given false effects but otherwise remained tested under same conditions During this time, participants were observed for changes in emotion Participants were then asked to fill out a questionnaire detailing their state of emotion Results: Showed that participants that were given information on the effects of adrenaline showed minimal changes in emotion But those who had been told no effect, thus no explanation for their state of arousal showed much higher changes in emotion (in regards to the scenario they were in) Participants who received a placebo experienced no state of arousal and this had no need to explain their feelings through their surroundings tho they had minimal changes in emotions Those who were misinformed about the effects of adrenaline were included for control purposes and so their results were not included Conclusions: Researchers concluded that emotion occurs by a process of cognitive labelling: the interpretation of physiological cues is combined with contextual cues to construct a person's subjective experience of emotion. *When explaining this study, do not go this much in-depth as in the above. State only the most relevant things that the examiner should know.

Arnold Berthold (1849) – the effects of testosterone on animal behaviour

Arnold Berthold (1849) Aims: The aim of this experiment was to test the effects of testosterone through the castration of roosters. Methods: Quasi Experiment 6 healthy roosters Surgically castrated them (removing testicles thus stopping the production of testosterone) He then divided them into 3 groups of 2 roosters Group 1 - control group- roosters were left in their own capons Group 2 - transplanted with testicles of another rooster Group 3 - reimplanted with their own testicles Results: Berthold observed that the castrated roosters displayed different behaviour, where they were less masculine and less aggressive towards other roosters. Such behaviours included a lack of crowing, fighting, and showed a less desire to mate. Those roosters that reacquired testicles behaved like normal roosters again. Autopsy of roosters revealed that the testicles did not re-establish nerve connections with the rest of the body. Conclusions: Berthold concluded that the testicles must have produced a biochemical that influences aggression and dominant male behaviours.

Dabbs et al (1995) – Testosterone and Aggression Correlation study

Dabbs et al – Testosterone and Aggression Correlation study Description Measure the level of Testosterone in 692 male adult prisoners. Prisoners who committed sex and violence crime had higher level of Testosterone. When compared to those who were in jail for property crime or drug abuse.

Dabbs & Morris (1990) - relationship between testosterone, sex and aggression and its effects

Aims & Assumptions: The relationship between testosterone, sex and aggression and its effects. Previous studies into the relationship between testosterone, sex and aggression have been limited by small sample sizes and failure to control effects of social class. Methods: Quasi Experiment Used a very large sample = 4,462 that were representative of American men in race, education, income and occupation. All had been enlisted in the US army and had been followed longitudinally from 1985 as part of a study of the effects of the Vietnam military experience. Men’s testosterone levels were measured during their induction into the Army. Extensive information relating to the men’s sexual behaviour, aggressive and criminal behaviour, and social class (education and income) since their discharge from the Army was collected. Results: First, they found an association between testosterone levels and SES: low SES men were significantly more likely than high SES men to have high testosterone levels. Second, men with high testosterone levels were significantly more likely to have been involved in childhood delinquency, adult crime, hard drug use, marijuana use, alcohol abuse, to have gone AWOL in the army, and to have had “many sex partners.? Dabbs and Morris also found the relationship between testosterone levels and these outcome variables differed by social class. Dabbs found that a higher socio-economic status moderates the effects of testosterone on criminal behaviours. He argues that persons of greater social status have access to other ways of expressing dominance than simply aggression. Therefore, they are less likely t end up in criminal trouble. Men with higher income and more education were, on average, significantly less likely to have high levels of circulating testosterone than men with low income and less education. Only in those men with lower socio-economic status was there a tendency for high levels of testosterone to be linked to antisocial behaviour. Conclusions: Dabbs and Morris concluded that testosterone has many profound effects, especially on male behaviour.