Arousal and Behavior, Essay Example

There are two main types of needs within the human body, and these include physiological and psychological.  Physiological needs are the essential needs that are absolutely crucial for the body to function and be healthful.  For instance, simple examples of water, food and air are common forms of physiological needs.  These must be satisfied in order for the body to work; otherwise the body may shut down completely.  We also have psychological needs that are more mental requirements that must be satisfied on some level.  Examples of these needs are the need to be loved, accepted and that the person is able to self-actualize or realize their full potentials.  Each type of need is different, but scholars argue that each is required in order for the individual to live a healthful life and function correctly.  Physiological needs require attention in order for the body to function.  These needs are put directly into the body.  Psychological needs are more mentally retrieved.  When the brain recognizes that these needs have been met, they satisfy the psychological requirements.  Therefore, these needs can change from the individual’s perception of the events that take place in their everyday lives.

The most commonly used theory regarding arousal is usually referred to as the Yerkes-Dodson law that shows a U-shaped function to explain the relationship between arousal and performance.  In the academic community, arousal is often referred to as motivation.  Therefore, arousal can have a direct impact on the performance or behavior that an individual chooses to perform.  Even the lowest form of arousal or motivating factors can produce some form of action within the human psyche.  Researchers have shown that higher arousal leads to increased stimulation that can trigger emotional behavior.  Low arousal can have a negative impact on action and will likely lead to poor motivation or even inaction within the human body.  Therefore, arousal can have a direct impact on performance, especially within situations where people are poorly aroused or motivated or even highly aroused or motivated.  These levels of arousal produce positive or negative performance levels and are important concepts to understand when considering human behavior.

The human body can receive stress in a number of different ways from work-related factors or factors involved within the person’s personal life.  Many people have developed several physical problems caused by stress.  The body develops a fight-or-flight automated response to stress and prepares itself for imminent danger by releasing biological chemicals into the blood stream to help control the blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline.  The brain also can become overworked and force the body to become exhausted in order to allow for the functions to be reduced and allow for recovery.  These problems can cause a major change in the individual’s behaviors.  Individuals with increased amounts of stress tend to become highly irritable, overly paranoid, and difficult to handle during interpersonal relations.  Long term effects of stress can lead to the development of physical damage such as ulcers or even cancer.  Short term effects can lead to increased blood pressure, emotional and physical harm, and a direct impact on the person’s attitude and decision-making ability.  In order for a person to reduce the amount of stress in his or her lives, it is important to maintain regular amounts of exercise and get plenty of sleep each night.