The nervous system- starts with the neuron, a cell. 



Neurotransmitters are chemicals held in the terminal buttons.
A Synapse is a structure that permits a neuron to pass a chemical or electrical signal to another cell. 

Electro-chemical process- Electrical- inside the neuron Chemical- outside the neuron. Firing is called action potential. 

All or None Principle- The idea that the neuron either fires or does not. (like a gun) 

Neurotransmitters- Chemical messengers released by terminal buttons through the synapse. 

4 types of Neurotransmitters

1.) Acetylcholine (ACH) Deals with motor movement and memory, lack of ACH is linked to Alzheimers. 

2.) Dopamine Deals with motor movement and alertness, lack of dopamine linked to Parkinson's 

3.) Serotonin is involved in mood control, lack of serotonin has been linked to depression.

4.) Endorphins are involved in pain control, many of our addictive drugs deal with endorphins 

                         

Sensory neurons take information from the brain. 
Inter-neurons take messages from the sensory neurons to other parts of the brain.
Motor neurons take information from brain to rest of the body.

Emotion

James Lang Theory of Emotion: experience of emotion is awareness of physiological responses to emotion arousing stimuli. We feel emotion because of biological changes caused by stress. 

Cannon Bard Theory of Emotion: emotion arousing stimuli simultaneously trigger physiological responses, subjective emotion. 

Two Factor Theory: To experience emotion, one must own our emotion.





Lie Detectors: Polygraph machine used to detect lies. Measures changes in blood pressure and heart rate.



Catharsis: emotional release, feel good, do good phenomenon.

Adaption Level Phenomenon: Tendency to form judgments relative to a neutral level. 

Relative Deprivation: Perception that one is worse off than those whom they compare themselves to.

Motivation

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.



Instinct Theory: We are motivated by our inborn automated behaviors. Instincts only explain why we do a small fraction of our behaviors. 



Drive Reduction Theory: The idea that physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need. 


Incentive: A positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior. 
  

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Abraham Maslow said we are motivated by needs, and all needs are not created equal. We are driven to satisfy lower needs first.




Hunger: Hunger is both physical and psychological. Hunger doesn't come from out stomach, but from our brain.

Lateral Hypothalamus: When stimulated makes you hungry. 

Ventromedial Hypothalamus: When stimulated makes you feel full. 



Leptin: a protein produced by bloated blood cells. Hypothalamus senses rises in leptin and curb eating and increase activity. 

Set Point: Hypothalamus acts like a thermostat, we are meant to be in a certain weight range. 

Body Chemistry: Glucose hormone, insulin, converts glucose to fat, when glucose levels drop, hunger increases. 

Hypothalamus and Hormones: Hypothalamus monitors a number of hormones that are related to hunger. 

Psychology of Hunger

Externals: People who's eating is triggered more by the presence of food than internal factors.

Bulimia Nervosa: Characterized by purging and binging.  

Anorexia Nervosa: Starve themselves below 85% normal body weight.

Intrinsic motivators: Rewards we get internally such as enjoyment or satisfaction.

 

Extrinsic motivators: Rewards we get for accomplishments from outside ourselves.  

 
Theory X: Managers believe that employees will work only if rewarded with benefits or threatened with punishments. (Interested in Maslows Lower Needs) 

Theory Y: Managers believe that employees are internally motivated to do good work. (Interested in Maslows Higher Needs) 

Love   

Passionate Love: an aroused state of intense positive absorption of another.

  

Compassionate Love: the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our life's are in twined. Compassionate love works because of equity, self disclosure, keeping no secrets. 

  


  Kitty Genovese

Altruism: Unselfish regard for the welfare of others. 

Bystander Effect: Willing to help if there are other bystanders around.

Social Exchange Theory: The idea that our social behavior is an exchange process, in which we maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Peace Making: Compromising, give people super-ordinate goals that can only be achevied through cooperation.