At the turn of the 20th century, health psychology had helped to spawn PNI. The

Question

At the turn of the 20th century, health psychology had helped to spawn PNI. The "debate" Descartes had spread around the world – concerning whether mind and body are separate - has arguably been resolved. The biology of the body certainly influence the contents of the mind, and the evidence, taken together, strongly suggest that the contents of the mind can influence the biology of the body. What are the implications for an interactive mind-body - a bi-directional model - for the purpose of understanding the degree over which we can control wellness and illness of both our body and mind?

Explanation / Answer

An immediate implication of the mind-body interaction is that emotional stress can cause or alter the course of even major physical diseases. Emotions affect certain body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, sleep patterns, stomach acid secretion, and bowel movements. In fact, the pathways and mechanisms by which stress and the immune system interact have also been identified. Stress can lead to physical symptoms even in the absence of any disease or illness because the body responds physiologically to emotions. The mind-body interaction also emphasises on the ability of the body to alter mental processes. Physiological factors can affect a person's thinking or mood.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.