The Effects Of Environmental Stressors On The Brain s...

Throughout Native Son, Bigger Thomas performs appalling acts of violence and malice towards others. Murdering two women, raping his girlfriend, creating a plot to coerce money from a grieving family, and threatening his friends clearly exemplifies the character’s cruel nature. Although these acts are inexcusable, Bigger’s violent tendencies can be explained by exposing the detrimental effects of his atmosphere. Environmental stressors can change the brain’s structure, resulting in a reactive personality. Being a black man in the 1900’s, Bigger Thomas experiences tough opposition by white society. Living in constant contention with his mother, Bigger encounters hostility and pressure inside his household. Constant stress from these environmental factors can stunt one’s brain’s development, resulting in behavioral problems. Through a psychological critique of the character, Bigger Thomas’ lack of proper judgment, morality, and emotional processing can be explained when investigating his societal and familial stressors. Before passing judgment upon Bigger Thomas’ lack of empathy and violent tendencies, one must first understand how environmental stressors influence the brain’s development. Extreme stress and contention in one’s social and familial environments cause the brain to become wired to expect negative behavior. When under stress, one’s brain signals the body to release two vital hormones: cortisol and epinephrine. When released, these hormones cause an abundance ofShow MoreRelatedNeuroticism Is A Dimension Of Temperament That Can Potentially Play A Role1057 Words   |  5 Pages(2014) provide an understanding of this role, through the triple vulnerability theory. The theory incorporates: general biological vulnerability, general psychological vulnerability, and specific psychological vulnerability all interacting in the development of an emotional disorder (or neuroticism itsel f), particularly anxiety and mood disorders. Neuroticism is the tendency to experience frequent, intense negative emotions associated with a sense of uncontrollability in response to stress (BarlowRead MoreBiological Hazards And Physical Hazards1051 Words   |  5 Pages Heterodynamic Context Exogenous threats can shape stress responses across the lifespan, and influences the rate of aging (ES-2014-aging). Environmental stressors include any factors that cause cell injury, such as heavy metals, radiation, heat exposure, reactive oxygen species, osmotic fluctuation, as well as social and psychological stressors (ES-2014). These trigger the stress response and related behavioral pathways through neural networks and interconnected neurohormonal and immune patternsRead MoreChildhood Obesity and Its Effect1260 Words   |  6 Pagesor self-worth, is important as it helps develop personality and is a major ingredient to our mental health status (Wang, F. and Veugelers, P. J., 2008). Some have said obesity may even have a negative effect on cognitive development, as well. There have been studies performed to research the effects of obesity on children and adolescents, which I am going to review. First, let me discuss some statistics that have been measured by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within theRead MoreSchizophrenia And The Psychosis State1189 Words   |  5 Pagespredisposition and environmental stressors in early development (during pregnancy and birth, and/or early childhood), leading to indirect changes in the brain (Comer, 370). These environmental stressors don’t dictate and guarantee an individual to form schizophrenia, but rather an increase in susceptibility (Comer, 370). Additional environmental factors and stressors later in life (during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood) can either damage the already vulnerable brain further or decreaseRead MoreMindfulness Meditation On The Classroom Essay962 Words   |  4 Pagespsychological illnesses may experience a difficult time concentrating and staying focused in school. Additionally, the over-accumulation of toxic stress, either due to the pressures of schools or environ mental (i.e., difficult exams, poverty, household dysfunction, etc.), can have negative and detrimental effects during childhood, as well as adulthood (Bucci et al., 2016). Pre-adolescence is a crucial stage in a child’s life because it is during this stage that kids can learn the coping mechanism thatRead MoreThe Common Psychiatric Disorder ( Bipolar Disorder )1573 Words   |  7 Pagesapt to follow through. As a rather elusive psychiatric disorder, the promise of a prevention verses cure has proven to be quite limited, given the extraordinary complexity of the illness. Prior to the inception of the illness, given one s predisposition, diversity, and non-specific range of hazards for said disorder; intervention, generally, has not been very effective. The pragmatic porthole of prospect concerning early intervention is during the first episode of illness, where the neuroanatomicalRead MoreThere Are Common Assumptions About Substance Addictions:931 Words   |  4 Pagescontrolled manner. Most individuals abusing substances lack motivation or self-efficacy to resist or confidence in avoiding substance use during high-risk relapsing situations. The effect of substance use is a social problem and has social implications. Another current assumption is that people abuse substances to subdue stressors or childhood trauma. Addiction is permanent and individuals can relapse at any mom ent (Minervini, I., 2011, p. 1). Such assumptions are validated by two fundamentally differentRead MoreChild Maltreatment And Its Effects On Children1373 Words   |  6 PagesMemory is the blueprint of an individual’s development and growth. Repeated experiences of things taken granted – such as learning to walk and learning to speak and write to express oneself – become encoded to ensure a smooth flow of information that help us adapt to the environment. However, children’s exposure to environmental stressors, depending on the exposure frequency and intensity, may impair the normal development of memory in children. This paper will evaluate the role of child maltreatmentRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder Essay919 Words   |  4 Pagesperson’s social interaction, communication and cognition4,7. The exact cause of ASD is still unknown. However, studies have shown that several genetic and environmental factors are associated with ASD development. Sjaarda et al. show a link between a genetic mutation in the serotonin transporter Slc6a4 gene, prenatal stress and the development of ASD-related characteristics. Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and is involved in various behaviours such as moodRead MoreThe Theories Of Schizophreni Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, And Nature Vs. Nurture813 Words   |  4 PagesThe four theories that are behind the cause of schizophrenia as referenced in the PowerPoint are Dopamine, Glutamate, Brain Abnormalities, and Nature vs. Nurture / More than one cause. 1. Dopamine Definition Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is one of the chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals between the neurons of the brain. However, very few of those neurons actually produce dopamine. (psychologytoday.com) Theory The main theory concerning dopamine is that too much it can