1 PSYCHOLOGY (8th Edition, in Modules) David Myers PowerPoint Slides Worth Publishers, © 2007

2 Hunger Module 35

3 Motivation Hunger  The Physiology of Hunger  The Psychology of Hunger

4 Hunger When are we hungry? When do we eat? When there is no food in our stomach. When we are hungry. How do we know when our stomach is empty? Stomach growls. Also called hunger pangs.

5 Semi-starvation Study, Keys (1950) Ancel Keys was interested in studying the affects of semi-starvation on humans. 36 male volunteers. Cut food intake by half for six months. Results: –Rapidly lost weight (maintained weight of about 25% starting weights) –Appeared listless and apathetic –Became obsessed with food (talked about it, dreamed about it, collected recipes) –Lost interest in sex an social activities. This study showed tremendous support for Maslow’s theory!

6 The Physiology of Hunger Stomach contractions (pangs) send signals to the brain making us aware of our hunger.

7 Stomachs Removed Tsang (1938) removed rat stomachs connected the esophagus to the small intestines and yet the rats felt hungry (and ate food).

8 Glucose: C 6 H 12 O 6 The body keeps tabs on its available resources. This is how it knows when to tell us were are hungry or thirsty. Glucose is a form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides energy for the body. Low Glucose levels = hunger. Glucose level in the blood is maintained by insulin, which decreases glucose in blood making us feel hungry. Glucose Molecule

9 Glucose & Brain Levels of glucose in the blood are monitored by receptors (neurons) in the stomach, liver, intestines, they send signals to the hypothalamus in the brain. Rat Hypothalamus

10 Hypothalamic Centers Lateral hypothalamus (LH) brings on hunger (stimulation). Destroy it and the animal has no interest in eating. Reduction of blood glucose stimulates orexin in LH which leads to ravenous eating in rats.

11 Hypothalamic Centers Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) depresses hunger (stimulation). Destroy it and the animal eats excessively. Richard Howard

12 Hypothalamus & Hormones Hypothalamus monitors a number of hormones that are related to hunger. HormoneTissueResponse Orexin increaseHypothalamusIncreases hunger Ghrelin increaseStomachIncreases hunger Insulin increasePancreasIncreases hunger Leptin increaseFat cellsDecreases hunger PPY increaseDigestive tractDecreases hunger

13 Set-Point Theory Manipulating lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus alters the body’s “weight thermostat.” If weight is lost – food intake increases and energy expenditure decreases. If weight is gained – the opposite takes place.

14 The Psychology of Hunger Memory plays an important role in hunger. Due to difficulties with retention, amnesia patients eat frequently, if given food (Rozin et al., 1998).

15 Taste Preference: Biology or Culture? Body chemistry and environmental factors together influence not only when we feel hunger but what we feel hungry for! Richard Olsenius/ Black Star Victor Englebert

16 Hot Cultures like Hot Spices Countries with hot climates use more bacteria- inhibiting spices in meat dishes.

17 Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by a normal- weight person (usually adolescent women) losing weight continuously and yet feeling overweight. Reprinted by permission of The New England Journal of Medicine, 207, (Oct 5, 1932), Lisa O’Connor/ Zuma/ Corbis

18 Eating Disorders Bulimia Nervosa: A disorder characterized by episodes of overeating, usually of high-calorie foods, followed by vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise.

19 Eating Disorders LEARN MORE ABOUT EATING DISORDERS…. Here are some videos… Careful! The one on bulimia is GRAPHIC! If you can’t handle watching someone throw up… DON’T watch it! –A&E Intervention- BulimiaA&E Intervention- Bulimia –Dying to be Thin- A PBS specialDying to be Thin- A PBS special –THIN and HBO documentaryTHIN and HBO documentary

20 Obesity A disorder characterized by excessive overweight. Obesity increases risk and health issues like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes hypertension, arthritis, and back problems.

21 Reasons for Eating Disorders 1.Sexual Abuse: Childhood sexual abuse does not cause eating disorders. 2.Family: Raised in a family where weight is excessive concern results in younger generation developing eating disorders. 3.Genetics: Twin studies have shown eating disorders are more likely to occur in identical than fraternal twins.

22 Body Image (Women) Western culture tends to over-emphasize thin body image more than other cultures.

23 Summary