Psychological immune system

life is to be happy at all times. Consequently narratives such as our physiological system, experience and culture systems on have taken advantage of this assumption and marketed happiness to vulnerable people who desire to attain happiness. In the article, “Immune to Reality” by Daniel Gilbert, the author discusses with the readers how our psychological system markets positive thoughts during negative situations in order to make us happy. Also, Evan Watters, the author of “The Mega-Marketing of Depression in Japan” explores how pharmaceutical companies market happiness through the sale of pills in Japan. Furthermore, the marketing of happiness through the culture on Ivy League…

The physical immune system protects one’s body from external sickness. Similarly, the psychological immune system protects one’s mental health from unhappiness, a form of illness. In Daniel Gilbert’s “Immune to Reality,” Gilbert discusses how the brain acquires happiness. Furthermore, he demonstrates how the brain will keep one from achieving his or her true happiness. According to Robert Thurman’s “Wisdom,” the alternative method of obtaining happiness is through selflessness. Both Gilbert and…

Homeostasis: the relative stable equilibrium of interdependent systems in the body, maintained by physiological processes. When one thinks of homeostasis the first two systems that come to mind should be the nervous and endocrine systems due to basic knowledge learned from taking any anatomy and physiology class. However, due to recent 2016 studies; could it be possible to now add a third system into playing a more prominent role in homeostasis and psychological functioning? The immune system is…

Stress can be defined in 3part, which are stressor, stress and stress response. According to psychology glossary “A Stressor is anything (physical or psychological) that produces stress (negative or positive) is considered a stressor. For example, getting a promotion is a positive event, but may also produce a great deal of stress with all the new responsibilities, workload, etc.” (2015) By definition, stress is any uncomfortable "emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical,…

Stress affects the immune system in two ways, physically and psychologically. One question you might ask yourself is, how does the body remain in good condition in response to physical and/or psychological stress? Looking at the immune system and its organs, “it contains billions of immune functioning cells’(HPC). The peripheral immune system protects the blood, lymph nodes, and spleen, while the endocrine system assists the Central Nervous System by producing hormones; and releasing the…

The skin is a major component of the integumentary system and forms a defensive barrier that protects the internal environment against external forces (Seeley, 2008). Studies carried out by Lowes, Suárez-Fariñas, and Krueger (2013), Cargill et al. (2007) and Tsoi et al. (2012) show that psoriasis vulgaris is a homeostatic disorder of the skin that interrupts the normal proliferation, differentiation and maturation of epithelial cells in the stratum corneum. The focul site of psoriasis…

is very important as the immune system takes a major attack in the presence of cancer, thus if there is chance for improvement in the hands of stimulants and endorphins is major. Linda Geddes approaches this idea in her “Happiness is Catching” paper; "It used to be thought that the immune system and the nervous system were worlds apart," says John Bienenstock of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. Now it seems the immune system, and infections that stimulate it, can influence our moods,…

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. To fight diseases our bodies produce antibodies, but in an SLE patient’s case, their body will produce what’s called ‘autoantibodies’. This means their immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign invaders and healthy cells. These autoantibodies cause the symptoms of the disease. Lupus can affect the skin, joints,…

Few things are as devastating as disease or terminal illness. Several diseases have made an appearance or re-emergence over the last couple of decades – HIV being among the most prevalent and devastating. HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, “is a chronic infectious disease passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood or sexual contact” (Hoeger, Hoeger, Hoeger, & Fawson, 2015). HIV was originally formed in chimpanzees in Central Africa, and spread to humans through infected…

Why Sleep? Like food, sleep is a biological need. Many people do not try to go without food for a day, but often, people skimp out on sleep which leads to many problems. Today, many people are not getting enough of sleep because they are trying to balance school, extracurriculars, and maintain healthy relationships. Teens need an average of eight to nine hours of sleep while adults need seven to eight hours to function normally. Without a sufficient amount of sleep, a person can suffer from…