Infradian Rhythms

?

AO1

AO2
  • Lasting over 24 hours, e.g. menstrual cycle regulated by hormone secretions in females of a reproductive age across all cultures
  • PMS - occurs few days prior to onset of bleeding. Stress, loss of appetite and concentration
  • Hibernation
  • SAD depressive disorder - less light = decreased serotonin and increased melatonin production from the pineal gland means depressed in winter months
  • PMS - in some cases cited as mental disorder in cases of murder. Deterministic - implies women have no free will or control - debate about extent of this lack of control.
  • Nurture plays a vital role in teaching people how to deal with their emotions and how to take responsibility
  • Large range of individual differences between female experiences of PMS so hard to know when people are being genuine

AO2

AO3
  • STUDY: Russel et al (supports McClintock and Stern's research)
  • Applied underarm sweat of donor women to upper lips of female pp's = menstrual cycles synchronised.
  • Shows phermones act as exogenous zeitgebers that can influence endogenous pacemakers and govern menstrual cycles
  • EVALUATION:
  • Random occurences - do not form a statistically significant difference
  • Evolutionary explanation - women coincide pregnancies and share child-caring duties
  • REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS:
  • Understanding the role of darkness in SAD has led to effective therapies e.g. phototherapy/light box treatment - use of strong lights in evening and morning to change levels of melatonin and seratonin - found to be effective.

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Sleep resources »