PSY230H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Novelty Seeking, Abraham Maslow, Sympathetic Nervous System
9
PSY230H1 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
9 documents
Document Summary
Zuckerman s early work examined responses to sensory deprivation. Some people seemed to find it more unpleasant than others. According to zuckerman, these people had a high need for sensation sensation seekers. Require a lot of stimulation to reach their optimal levels of arousal. Zuckerman s more recent work connects sensation seeking to neurotransmitter functioning in the brain. Enzymes like mao breakdown neurotransmitters & are necessary for proper regulation of neurotransmitter levels. Too much mao: too much breakdown of neurotransmitters, so nerve transmission is diminished. Too little mao: too little breakdown of neurotransmitters, so nerve transmission is increased. Zuckerman found that sensation seekers tend to have low levels of mao. Might suggest less inhibition of nervous system, so less control over responses. Serotonin plays an important role in regulation of mood, eating, sleep, sexuality) Norepinephrine important for activating sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response) Cloninger s tridimensional personality model proposes that there are 3 personality traits tied to these 3 neurotransmitters.
