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The Thermoregulatory System

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The Psychobiology of Emotions

Part of the book series: Emotions, Personality, and Psychotherapy ((EPPS))

Abstract

The living cells of the body produce (metabolize) energy from the chemicals absorbed from food during digestion and oxygen absorbed by the lungs in a complex series of relatively inefficient chemical reactions. Only about 20% of the energy produced is used to perform work, and the remaining 80% is converted to heat. Accordingly, metabolism is measured in units of heat called Calories or kilogram calories (1 Calorie = 1,000 calories). A Calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1°C.

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Suggested Readings

  • Bakal, D. A. Psychology and medicine: Psychobiological dimensions of health and illness. New York: Springer, 1979. A good general introduction to the scientific literature on headaches and other psychophysiological disorders.

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  • Hensel, H. Thermoreception and thermal regulation. New York: Academic Press, 1981. A comprehensive discussion of the anatomy and physiology of human thermoregulation.

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  • Lazarus, R. S. Thoughts on the relations between emotion and cognition. American Psychologist,1982, 37(9), 1019–1024. A theoretical discussion of the relationships between cognitive coping strategies (e.g., denial), emotional states, and physiological activity.

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© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Thompson, J.G. (1988). The Thermoregulatory System. In: The Psychobiology of Emotions. Emotions, Personality, and Psychotherapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2121-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2121-5_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-2123-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-2121-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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