Human Variation— Heat

Human Variation

Heat

High temperatures negatively effect the body’s homeostasis. The body’s response to hyperthermia, when the core body temperature is between 105 and 107 degrees, is to sweat in order to cool down. When this is not effective, depending on the climate or surroundings, there is a disruption of the body’s core temperature ultimately disturbing homeostasis. Our bodies have a few ways of adapting to this stress called heat. 

Short term Adaptation: Sweating

Evaporative cooling, as it is also called, cools the body down in dry climates, but also causes major water loss which can be dangerous.

Facultative: Increased Blood Flow; Vaslolidation

The body will increase its blood flow when it begins to overheat. This allows the heat to disperse  around the body in attempt to cool it down. Heat is dispersed and exits through the skin’s surface often causes redness of the face or other parts of the body. 

Developmental: Linear Body Types

The more surface area, the more heat is dispersed. Length allows for more perspiration to cool the body quicker.

Cultural: 

A cultural response to heat can be wearing minimal clothing or using an air conditioning unit. We allow our bodies to “breathe” by wearing less clothing, and we avoid the heat as a whole when we escape to the AC. 

There are many benefits to studying human variation. Knowledge allows for preparedness when we face climates we have not previously been accustomed to. Knowing is the first step in preparing to explore a new place as you know the dangers and the safety precautions to take in facing extreme heat, extreme cold, etc. In the case of high altitudes, this information would be helpful because in order to withstand high altitudes if one wanted to climb Mt. Whitney, they would need an oxygen tank, as well as knowing what to do when the body reacts to high altitude.

Race is not a factor because all of these adaptations hold true to the human race. Race is not based in biology, rather culture. It would be more accurate to describe these stresses as in different ways humans adapt. 

Language

Part 1: 

By the end of the 15 minutes I was frustrated. Our conversation did not go in to much depth due to the fact that I could not convey specifically what I was thinking through mere gestures. I could agree or disagree with what was being said, but I could not give reason behind it, therefore I found this very difficult. My partner and my conversation was slower and “drier” than a normal conversation we would have where we could both communicate verbally because she posed her questions and statements in ways that only needed a simple response. 

My partner was the one in control. It was impossible for me to change a topic other than when I would get frustrated and drop the topic as a whole, prompting my partner to move on to something else. My partner definitely had more power in this conversation, and it was not balanced. I had to follow where she was going at all times. 

The culture that communicates verbally is going to have the advantage in communicating more complex ideas. Imagine if our presidential candidates could not communicate verbally, we would not understand what they stood for. They may be able to communicate simple ideas, but complex ideas and answers during debates would be impossible. 

Part 2: 

This took me longer than I originally thought, because every time I used some sort of non-verbal communication, my partner would stop the conversation and we would basically start over. This became frustrating but it forced me to consciously think of what I was doing and how I use non-verbal communication so frequently. It was hard for my partner to read exactly how I was feeling on certain topics. I could not give any hints towards the feelings behind the words I was speaking which led to miscommunication on multiple occasions. 

Non-verbal communication is very important to how we communicate with others. It is something we do not often realize, until we are forced to not use it. Techniques are important for the sole reason of miscommunication. If you do not have a certain technique to how you speak with certain inflections or body language, it hinders your ability to fully communicate everything you are thinking or feeling. We can often read a person’s emotions behind their words when we are aware of their non-verbal communication.

The ability to read body language helps in many situations. Someone’s body language often gives of “vibes” more or less and as humans, we pick up on those vibes and are often able to sense fear, violence, etc. 

My mom is someone who has difficulty reading body language because she often reads too far in to things. I think that is a downside to body language is sometimes it can be misinterpreted, just like ay form of communication. It would be beneficial in the work place to not be able to read someone’s body language, because the perceptions made based on what someone is saying can take away from the point they are trying to get across if it is strictly logical. We often want to find the “hidden meaning” in what someone is saying, but in this case, that could have a negative effect on the relationship.