🥸intro to psychology review

key term - Walter Cannon

Definition

Walter Cannon was a pioneering American physiologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of stress and the body's homeostatic mechanisms. His work laid the foundation for the modern conceptualization of stress and its impact on physiological processes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Cannon coined the term 'homeostasis' to describe the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment.
  2. He is known for his work on the fight-or-flight response, which describes the physiological changes that occur when the body is under stress.
  3. Cannon's research demonstrated that the sympathetic nervous system plays a crucial role in the body's stress response, triggering the release of hormones like adrenaline.
  4. His studies on the effects of emotional states on physiological processes laid the groundwork for the modern understanding of the mind-body connection.
  5. Cannon's work on stress and the body's regulatory mechanisms has had a lasting impact on the field of psychology and our understanding of the stress response.

Review Questions

  • Explain the concept of homeostasis and how it relates to Walter Cannon's work.
    • Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment, despite changes in external conditions. Walter Cannon was the first to coin this term and describe the physiological processes involved in this regulatory mechanism. Cannon's research showed that the body has various systems, such as the nervous and endocrine systems, that work together to keep vital functions like temperature, blood pressure, and pH levels within a narrow, optimal range. This ability to maintain equilibrium is crucial for the body's overall health and well-being, and Cannon's work on homeostasis laid the foundation for our modern understanding of this fundamental physiological process.
  • Describe the fight-or-flight response and its connection to Walter Cannon's work on stress.
    • The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. Walter Cannon was instrumental in identifying and describing this stress response, which involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Cannon's research showed that when the body is under stress, the sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of hormones like adrenaline, which prepare the body to either fight the stressor or flee from it. This rapid physiological response, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension, is a crucial adaptation that helps the body cope with immediate threats. Cannon's groundbreaking work on the fight-or-flight response has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the body's stress response and its implications for physical and mental health.
  • Evaluate the significance of Walter Cannon's contributions to the field of psychology and our understanding of the mind-body connection.
    • Walter Cannon's contributions to the field of psychology are widely recognized as foundational. His work on the physiological aspects of stress and the body's regulatory mechanisms has had a profound impact on our understanding of the mind-body connection. Cannon's research demonstrated that emotional states, such as fear and anxiety, can trigger specific physiological responses, challenging the prevailing view that the mind and body were separate entities. By elucidating the role of the sympathetic nervous system and the fight-or-flight response, Cannon showed how psychological experiences can have tangible effects on the body's functioning. This laid the groundwork for the modern biopsychosocial model of health, which recognizes the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors in shaping an individual's well-being. Cannon's pioneering work has had far-reaching implications, influencing fields like stress management, psychoneuroimmunology, and the study of the mind-body connection, and continues to be highly relevant in contemporary psychology and medicine.