Heredity and Hormones

Heredity and Hormones

Melinda Sigle

Beh/225

January 18, 20112

Sheila Newman

Heredity and hormones work together to influence one’s behavior. Human behavior varies from one person to another. The tendencies to be aggressive or to be intelligent are indicators of human behaviors. This behavioral is result of hormones and genes. Heredity includes genetics, behavioral genetics, and evolutionary psychology; and hormones are produced by the endocrine system, that works with the nervous system. Hormones switch on and off behaviors. The relationships between hormones and heredity show a diagram of the effects of heredity on human behavior.

Genetic play a part in the overall diagram because the traits and chromosomes are passed on to a person, this because their foundation that is influenced by all other experiences, mental dispositions, and physical attributes. “Genes are responsible for the development of the nervous and endocrine systems; therefore, genes can influence the chance of a certain behavior occurring in a certain set of circumstances” (Mason, 2010) Genes can change or evolve based on the environment explaining the reason why mutations and variations occur.

Hormones control emotional responses in the body that attributed to a persons behavior. Hormones are responsible for functions in the body including growth, development, metabolism, sexual desire and reproduction. Another concept to keep in mind is that drugs or ingredients in products can affect some people’s hormones.

The thyroid gland produces thyroxin, which regulates metabolism. Any variation of this hormone can result in issues, for example, insomnia or the need to constantly sleep. Near the thyroid is the parathyroid that regulates calcium and phosphate in the body. (Mason, 2010)

The pineal gland produces melatonin that regulates the sleep cycle. The pancreas produces both insulin and glucagons that regulate blood sugar levels. The adrenal...