Lecture Notes

Factors Regulating Food, Sex, and Drugs

Categories of Regulation

1. Biological Factors
   • Hormones
   • Brain's automatic and unconscious control
   • Conscious choices and desires (overlap with socio-cultural factors)
2. Socio-Cultural Factors
   • Influence by society and culture on expression of needs

Food Regulation

Biological Factors

• Lateral Hypothalamus:
  • Signals to stomach to start eating (positive feedback)
• Ventromedial Hypothalamus:
  • Signals to stop eating when full
• Leptin:
  • Appetite-suppressing hormone
  • High levels when full
• Insulin:
  • Brain detects insulin levels to monitor fat stores and blood sugar
• Metabolism:
  • Slows down during dieting/starvation, leading to easier weight gain when resuming normal eating
• Genetic Predisposition
  • Weight influenced biologically from parents

Socio-Cultural Factors

• Occasions and Events:
  • Religious holidays, celebrations
• Time:
  • Influence of meal times such as breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Desire:
  • Preference for comfort, spicy, sweet foods
• Appeal:
  • Whether food looks appetizing
• Availability:
  • Seasonal foods, geographically specific foods
• Economic Factors:
  • Access to different types of food

Sex Regulation

Biological Factors

• Sexual Response Cycle (Masters and Johnson)
  • Excitement Phase: Increased muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure
  • Plateau Phase: Steady physiological state
  • Orgasm: Peak of sexual pleasure
  • Resolution/Refractory Phase: Return to baseline
• Testosterone:
  • Related to sexual drive in both males and females
  • Sexual activity increases testosterone, boosting sex drive
• Genetic Predisposition:
  • Sexual orientation influenced biologically

Socio-Cultural Factors

• Age: Variations in sexual response
• Cultural Background: Acceptability of practices
• Stimuli: Responsiveness to visual/tactile stimuli
• Emotions and Psychological Influence: Impact on sexual behavior
• Desires: Varies by intent to procreate or not

Drug Regulation

Biological Factors

• Genetic Predisposition:
  • Family history of mental disorder or drug abuse increases risk
• Withdrawal Effects:
  • Biological basis for cravings and withdrawals
• Biochemical Factors:
  • Drugs mimic or alter natural neurotransmitters and brain chemistry
  • Heroin/Marijuana: Mimic natural transmitters
  • Cocaine: Abnormal release of dopamine, affects limbic system

Socio-Cultural Factors

• Curiosity and Novelty
• Social Rebellion
• Poor Control and Stress management
• Low Self-Esteem: Associated with Maslow's hierarchy of needs
• Fatigue Relief
• Economic Factors: Higher drug use in areas with higher poverty