Circadian Rhythms Essay Example
Circadian Rhythms Essay Example

Circadian Rhythms Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (989 words)
  • Published: May 14, 2022
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Circadian rhythms are physical, emotional or behavioral alterations running in a span of approximately 24- hours in all organisms. In these regard therefore, all living organisms have this circadian cycle within them and which is controlled by the external cues like sunlight and darkness. This rhythm is situated in the hypothalamus and is able to synchronize itself in a way into adapting with the given timeline of 24- hours. The process is cyclic in nature as they alternate with periods of light and darkness.

Though most of these rhythmic reactions rely on sunlight and or darkness, cues like lightning, genetic composition and age of organism can affect the cycle.

As the circadian rhythms are originated from the brain’s hypothalamus, they tend to affect sleep-wake cycles, production and release of hormones, cell regeneration and body temperature regulation. The adverse effects can also lead to obesity, diabetes and seasonal disord

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ers.

Role of hypothalamus for sleep
The hypothalamus components that is responsible for wakefulness of animals. These include the posterior hypothalamus, basal epencephalon and intralaminar nuclei. Waking is associated with a chemical arousal system. The system relays tonic activation to target neurons.

The hypothalamus is responsible for the secretion of growth hormone and cortisol. Increase in growth hormone a decrease in cortisol results in increased sleep deprivation.

Micro sleeps are temporary episodes of sleep which may last for fraction of a second or several seconds in which an individual fails to respond to some arbitrary sensory input and becomes unconscious. They usually occur over sleep deprivation.

Reasons for sleep
People are drawn to sleep by differing reasons. Three reasons why people need to sleep include to restore and rejuvenate body functioning. Sleep is also necessary t

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induce muscle and tissue repair. Through sleep also, an individual is able to consolidate memories of previous body functioning.

There are various moments when I know I need to sleep. For instance, I at times find that my eyelids are closing up on themselves when in a conversation or while attending a light task is a direct symbol that I need to sleep. In other moments when the body feels seemingly weak or fatigued to perform tasks like reading I take a nap. Persistent yawning has also been an indicator that I need sleep. All these moments precede micro sleeps in which unconscious moments of sleep.

Kohlberg's stages of moral development
Kohlberg Lawrence was a moral philosopher who was interested in understanding the moral development of children in conceiving sense of right, wrong and justice. His was a development of Piaget stages of cognitive development. He was able to observe that human beings undergo the same stages of moral development which are not retrogressive. The stages highlight difference in thinking and reasoning across various levels. The stages include:

Level 1- Pre-conventional Morality
At this level, human being’s morality is shaped by the consequences of non-adherence. Authority is outside the individual basing on the physical consequences of an action from those who impose the rules.
Stage 1: obedience and punishment orientation: in which an individual avoids physical punishment by being good. The goodness or badness of an action is based on the consequence of the action from the might who in most cases are the adults.
Stage 2: Individualism and exchange stage: makes the children realize that there are different conceptualizations of right or wrong as different individuals have different viewpoints. It’s naïve

and egoistic as that which favors personal needs is right.

Level 2- Conventional Morality
This level comprised of most adolescents and who possess authority thus norms are what are agreed upon the given group.
Stage 3: Good interpersonal Relationships stage: involves individuals acting to please others. This includes boy/ girl conformity in which good is what pleases a given group of individuals or what is done by the majority.
Stage 4: Authority and maintaining social order orientation stage: is the part where an individual realizes the wider rules of the society. The judgments in the regard linger across avoiding guilt and upholding the law. In this stage, actions are a differentiated in terms of obligation or natural motives.

Level 3- Post conventional morality
The judgments of individuals are based on personal choice of code of conduct while reasoning is based on individual rights and justice. Moral views are obtained from the surrounding population although decisions to act are based on the individual’s judgment and thought.
Stage 5: Social contracts and individual rights: stage brings in a new actualization. In this stage, individuals realize that not all rules work in their favor as others are oppressive. The punishment is not just as it does not promote the rights of individuals but leads to conflict in the community. What is right is the will of the entire society.
Stage 6: universal ethical: principles are the final stage. It is the stage of self-actualization, in which individual’s acts out of universal principles based on equality and dignity of human life. Action is controlled by internalized ideals which force an individual to act in disregard of the immediate environment. Contrary action brings in self-condemnation and guilt.

The stages

in practice
Kohlberg’s stages of moral development are manifest in the several stages of human experience. For instance, as an infant, the only thing that determined my course of action was the consequence of the act. At the second stage, I would accept to be a servant to others but because I was afraid of the consequence of refusal. In the third stage, I tried acting good to draw attention and please others especially the opposite gender. In the same level, fourth stage, despite my acts to please, I regarded duty first and adherence to authority demands. Then into maturity, collective action of the society is the driving factor as a legalistic action. Though I have not developed into self-actualization, the sixth stage is onset as most actions are driven by conscience towards building mutual trust and respect.

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