Biology and Human Behavior

Human beings are made up of biological components with the cells being the smallest building blocks. The specific cells make different organs and the organs make the whole body. That is why, each and every activity of our body, is related with biology. In the same way, our behavior is also shaped by the atomic activities that take place in our body. Behind our every visible actions, there lie some microscopic actions taking place somewhere in our body.

The most important biological elements in shaping our behaviors are the nervous system and endocrine system. These two systems are interrelated. The nervous system transmits the “information between different parts of the body” (Charles Stangor, Introduction to Psychology, p. 62) and the endocrine system regulates the chemical (hormones) in the body. The glands of the endocrine system secrete hormones and the nervous system transmits those hormones throughout the body in order to produce specific behaviors in the body. For instance, the testosterone (male sex hormone) is related with aggressiveness in males (also in females) (Charles Stangor, Introduction to Psychology, p. 88). If the hormone is only secreted but not transmitted over the body, it will have no effect. So, the nervous system must pass on testosterone throughout the body in order to produce “aggressive” behavior. In this way, the nervous system and the endocrine system work together, to influence our behaviors.

The sex hormones have a vital role in determining a person’s social thoughts and behavior. It is sex hormones that distinguish males and females as they grow up. The example in the previous paragraph can also be applied to this context. Since testosterone is produced in males, they are generally more aggressive than females. Similarly, testosterone is also related with the “muscle growth and strength” (Charles Stangor, Introduction to Psychology, p. 88). So, males generally show the qualities like protecting their families and doing physically tough works. In case of females, their sex hormones prepare them for pregnancy, and so, in my view, the feeling of motherhood and care might be related with female sex hormones.

Hormones have marked influence on sensation and perception. This is supported by the fact that sensation and perception are incomplete without the process of transduction “the conversion of stimuli detected by receptor cells to electrical impulses that are then transported to the brain” (Charles Stangor, Introduction to Psychology, p. 94). The hormones when present in the body affect the way in which the electric pulses are transmitted i.e. transduction, and thus affect the process of sensation and perception. For example, when stress hormones are present in the body, it takes some time for the person to sense and perceive external disturbance. She/he might be lost in a worrying trance and may not hear someone calling him.

Therefore, the nervous system and the endocrine system, work together, to influence our behavior. They have a mutual relationship in determining our activities. The hormones play huge role in determining our thoughts and social behavior including sensation and perception. They also determine contrasting characteristics of two genders. So, our behavior is also influenced by the biological components in our body along with cognitive, motivational and emotional factors.

References:

Stangor, Charles (n.d), Introduction to Psychology, Brain, Bodies and Behavior, Sense and Perceiving, p. 62, 88 and 94