How do Hormones Affect Interaction With Each Other?
The human body is an amazingly complex system of nerves and muscles, capillaries and tissues, veins and organs spread far and wide; hence, the system runs efficiently. But what helps the nervous system control even the body’s tiniest cell? Hormones! Hormones are essential in keeping the brain up to date with every activity in the body.
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers secreted into the blood circulation by endocrine glands. Blood streams carry these hormones to different organs to perform their functions.
Some of the body functions performed by hormones are the metabolism of food, reproductive health and growth, development and growth, cognition, mood stability, body temperature maintenance, and thirst maintenance.
What role does hormone play in interactions between individuals?
A person’s behaviour results from neural activities that are greatly affected by chemical messengers; thus, hormones affect how a person acts around people. Hormones also affect the sensory systems, central integrators, and peripheral effectors that allow them to affect a person’s behaviour. However, it is essential to understand that hormones can modulate the expression or conveyance of behaviour and not necessarily cause it.
What are some examples of hormones affecting human behaviour?
Estrogens are associated with the regulation of female sexual behaviours. Apart from this significant function, estrogen also plays various essential nonreproductive roles. It acts on our nervous system centrally to control pain, seizures, energy homeostasis, and neural degeneration. Estrogen plays a vital role in regulating mood, which affects how an individual interacts with those around him. Testosterone, a male sex hormone, has been reported to cause aggressiveness and antisocial behaviour. It is also linked to competitiveness. But on the other hand, as per research, testosterone also imparts feelings of protectiveness and generosity in an individual.
It may sound surprising, but being an extravert also expresses a hormone. It was found that extroverted people had higher quantities of dopamine in their bloodstream. This hormone is also related to motivation. Adrenaline is also associated with liveliness. It is said to make one feel cheerful. Oxytocin has a direct connection with human behaviour. It is called a bonding molecule because it connects two individuals and builds trust. It is also said to be associated with a romantic affinity toward people. However, there is still a debate that vasopressin is the bonding molecule in men.
Serotonin is a significant component of antidepressants as it has a very positive effect on one’s mood. It makes you feel good from the inside and kills depression and anxiety. Adrenaline is known for creating a fight-or-flight response. The high adrenaline rush floods the body with energy and prepares the person to combat dangerous situations.
Do the hormones affect all individuals in the same manner?
There is no one size fits all phenomenon regarding your neuronal activities. A hormone that lights up your mood may bring a sense of calmness to someone else. No matter the effect, Hormones play a vital role in balancing your performance and behaviour with others. Thus, keeping them in check and having a steady flow of all the hormones is crucial.