Major Depressive Disorder - Assignment Example

 Major Depressive Disorder Q Describe the basic functioning of a neuron beginning with receiving signals from other neurons or sense organs and ending with the transmission of a signal to another neuron. Explain how a pattern of neuron firing is related to behavior. Answer Neurons are the basic elements in controlling our behavior. Neurons possess a cell body that contains a nucleus. Neurons have ability to communicate with other cells transmitting information across long distances. Besides a cell body Neuron also has a cluster of fibers at one end known as dendrites. These fibers essentially get messages from other neurons. The other end of the cell body owns a long tube kind structure called axon. The axon as part of the neuron channels messages from the dendrites to other neurons. Axons are found to be several millimeters long; at times, they are found to be three feet long. Terminal buttons at the end in Axons relay messages to other neurons (Kandel et al., 2000). All messages, from one neuron to another, transmit through electrical impulses and move in one direction. While impulses emerging from the dendrites, they transmit to the cell body, further to the axon and then to adjacent neurons. Dendrites then notice messages from other neurons and carries signals forward. Axons are insulated by a myelin sheath made up of protein and fat essentially to prevent the short circuiting of messages (Kandel et al., 2000). The space between two neurons called synapse is filled with chemical called neurotransmitters. When an impulse reaches to a terminal button via axon, the terminal button releases a chemical known as neurotransmitter. Thus, neurotransmitters act as a carrier taking messages to a dendrite of a receiving neuron across the synapse. That means within a neuron messages transmit through electrical impulses while between the neurons communication takes place through a chemical mode. It is important to note that not all neurons receive the chemical mode of communication and different kinds of neurotransmitter differ in their ability to fit at receptor site of neuron. That means communication can take place only when a neurotransmitter fits into a receptor site perfectly. When the message received by the neuron is of excitatory type then neuron fires from its resting state. Thus neurotransmitter is an important link between the person's nervous system and his or her behavior (Kandel et al., 2000). Different kinds of neurons conduct specialized jobs and the mirror neurons are one of them. They fire not only on a particular behavior of a person but also when someone else conducts the same behavior. It is through mirror neurons that a person understands the intention of other person. That is how children possess an innate ability to imitate other through mirror neurons. Development of language in humans, and a feeling of empathy emanates from mirror neurons (Falck_yetter, et al, 2006). Q. 6 When your friend hears that you are taking a psychology course, she asserts that psychology is simply common sense. Explain why common sense is not the best way to understand human behavior. Describe the methods of science and explain why they are superior to common sense in understanding human behavior. Answer It is naive to say that psychology is simply common sense. Psychology is a study of deep mental processes having association with behavior. Several branches of human interests such as sociology, anthropology, linguistics, or medicine are associated with psychology. Psychology is not a judgmental science as some people believe but it greatly relies on scientific findings and methods for its answers and to arrive at certain deductions. Researchers employ empirical methods to find relationships with numerous variables. Psychology uses several techniques such as experiments, case studies, naturalistic observation while studying human minds and their behavior. While studying the subject of psychology, researchers take several approaches to find their answers that include cognitive, biological, humanistic, behavioral or evolutionary perspective. For example, to understand violence in society some psychologists may research into biological influences while many others may study social causes leading to violence. It is quite likely that a single cause may not perfectly reply the cause of violence in the society. Psychology has many branches and sub-branches; those can be described as cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology and so on. Each of these deals in a specialized area of human issues and many of them has begun only in last few decades. The principles of psychology can be applied in myriads of areas. The way publicity campaigns influence people to endorse a particular product or service is also a subject of study in psychology. Thus, psychology is not only a theoretical discipline but it is an applied science too. Researchers not only focus on adding basic knowledge about human minds but also work towards solving human issues in real-world situations (Cherry, 2014). Q. 2. Describe one personality trait that you believe to be highly heritable (mostly a product of genetics) and another trait that seems to be much less so. Provide reasons for your answer, and explain why you would expect genetics to exert a much greater impact on some personality traits than on others Answer People differ with each other in their personality. Each person reacts differently to the given situations. There is a great debate whether the personality is inherited or develops gradually due to experience and environment. As such, none of the personality trait is completely inherited nor its development is attributed entirely to surroundings. Lupu (2006) argues, "Heredity establishes the limits of one's personality traits that can be developed, while the environment - represented by the cultural, social and situational factors - influence the actual development within the limits." Individual's temperament, to a great extent, depends upon biological factors or heredity. Activity level as a part of temperament and mood quality in an individual is largely influenced by genetics and less by environment or surroundings. It has nothing to do with good or bad happenings around the person. A newborn with active temperament will remain active throughout childhood and adulthood when compared with other persons of same age but subdued temperament (Mercer, 2009). In contrast, ‘agreeableness’ as a personality trait is less inherited than developed under the influence of environment and experiences. Here, the influence of parents, friends, schooling and society plays a pivotal role rather than just genetics. In other words, heredity factor plays a least role in developing an ‘agreeable personality’ in an individual (Bergeman, et al, 1993). Q. 5. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald believe in the importance of stern discipline; they impose strict rules which they expect their children to obey without question. They penalize misbehavior harshly, frequently with a spanking. Mr. and Mrs. Mendoza instead use milder forms of punishment to enforce their rules. They also have regular family meetings in which their children help them to establish household rules and penalties for breaking them. What is the name of each of these two approaches to parenting and what do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of each. Explain the reasons for your answer. Answer Mr. and Mrs. McDonald' approach to parenting is authoritarian in nature. They do not believe in sharing their children's view and expect their children to follow strict rules as formulated by them without raising any question. The risk with this kind of parenting is that it does not allow free flow of communication from children out of fear of violating some parental rules. In fact, they begin hiding important matters that the parents must know. This, in the long run, may hamper their development and harm them significantly. In contrast, Mr. and Mrs. Mendoza's approach is authoritative in nature. In this approach, parents try to understand their children's behavior with sympathy. They are not only concerned with the behavior of the children but also attempts to find an amicable solution to the issues without enforcing their own rule in the strictest sense. They consider their children’s concerns with empathy and attempt to bring acceptable outcome so that their children share all important matters with them. Children find their parents fully involved, concerned and emotionally attached while not fulfilling unjust demands but giving due consideration to their justified demands. Parenting is full of complexities and it is a science and art both. Authoritative approach to parenting is certainly superior to authoritarian kind for healthy growth of child. There is no short cut for healthy parenting and involvement with child is utmost necessary. That is very well fulfilled by authoritative approach of parenting. Resorting to permissive parenting can exert more harm to children as in that case, children are not exposed to ultimate reality of life (Kulas, 2014). References Bergeman C. S., Chipuer H. M., Plomin, R., Pedersen, N. L., McClearn, G.E., Nesselroade, J.R., Costa P.T. Jr, McCrae R. R. (1993). Genetic and environmental effects on openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness: an adoption/twin study.pubMed.gov. Retrieved March 29, 2014 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8345444 Cherry, K. (2014). 10 Things You Need to Know About Psychology. Retrieved March 29, 2014 from http://psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/tp/facts-about-psychology.htm Falck_yetter, T., Gredeback, G., & Von Hofsten, C. (2006). Infants predict other peoples' action goals. Nature Neuroscience. 9. 878-879. Kandel, E., Schwartz, J., Jessell, T. (2000). Principles of Neural Science. 4th ed. McGraw-Hill. Kulas, M. (2014). The 3 Types of Parenting Styles. Retrieved March 29, 2014 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/76463-types-parenting-styles/ Lupu, A. (2006). Our Personality - Is It Genetically Inherited or Determined by The Environmental Factors? Retrieved March 29, 2014 from http://news.softpedia.com/news/Our-Personality-Is-It-Genetically-Inherited-or-Determined-by-The-Environmental-Factors-28413.shtml Mercer, J. (2009). Temperament and Genetics: Some Pieces of the Personality Puzzle. psychologytoday.com Retrieved March 29, 2014 from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/child-myths/200907/temperament-and-genetics-some-pieces-the-personality-puzzle Read More