Human behavior and emotions are influenced by various factors and the continuous interplay among them. The genetic makeup and environment can shape one’s mood and behavior and contribute to the development of abnormal behavioral patterns and different psychopathologies. Therefore, it is important to discuss the interaction between genes and environment as well as the impact of neurotransmitters and emotions on the development of mental health and behavioral disorders.
The interaction between genetic makeup and environmental factors can substantially affect one’s behavior. The gene-environment interplay occurs when the genetic composition affects sensitivity to different environmental factors (Quinn & D’Onofrio, 2020). Thus, exposure to certain environmental circumstances controls genetic expression, affecting one’s mood and behavioral patterns. For example, the genetic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis linked to brain maturation and function impairment can translate into behavioral disruptions such as predisposition for anxiety and depression as well as the inability to cope with stress (Schiele & Domschke, 2018). Such environmental factors as traumatic life events and exposure to stress can contribute to the HPA axis’s heightened response and an individual being more susceptible to stress compared to others (Schiele & Domschke, 2018). It should also be noted that the environments can affect the chemistry involved in encoding the genetic information, affecting the genetic makeup and, consequently, gene expressions. Overall, the interaction between one’s environment and genes can significantly affect behavior in particular circumstances.
Mood and abnormal behavioral patterns are also influenced by the functioning of neurotransmitters, molecules that transmit chemical messages between neurons and muscles. Specifically, monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine regulate mood states in humans (Loula & Monteiro, 2022). Impaired neurotransmission can lead to the development of mood disorders exhibited through abnormal and socially unacceptable behaviors. For example, monoamine neurotransmitter fluctuations are linked to mood disorders in patients with depression, while depressive disorder is associated with monoaminergic neurotransmission (Loula & Monteiro, 2022). It should be noted that environmental factors, such as diet, can affect the production of neurotransmitters, leading to the development of mood disorders. Abnormal output and oscillation in the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters are involved in irregular behavioral patterns exhibited by the afflicted individuals.
Furthermore, emotions and their expression play a crucial role in psychopathology. As mental health or behavioral disorders, psychopathology manifests through dysregulated emotional reactions. Regulation of emotions can be viewed as the “interaction between the occurrence, intensity, duration, and expression of emotion” (Ye et al., 2019, p. 1). Meanwhile, emotion dysregulation can be defined as a pattern of emotion regulation characterized by maladaptive regulation strategies or the inability to utilize effective adaptive strategies (Weissman et al., 2019). Emotion dysregulation contributes to the development of most psychopathologies, as the incapability to efficiently react to an adverse event can exacerbate the genetic predisposition. It should also be noted that dysregulation of emotions is associated with irregular production of monoamine neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine (Ye et al., 2019). Thus, emotions and their abnormal regulation can contribute to the development of a variety of psychopathologies.
In summary, one’s mental health and emotional well-being are affected by a variety of different factors, including genetic makeup, environment, and life experiences. Genes create a framework within which environmental factors shape individual human behavior. In addition, an irregular production of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine can translate into the development of abnormal behavioral patterns. These neurotransmitters are also linked to emotion regulation, with dysregulation resulting in psychopathologies being developed.
References
Loula, R., & Monteiro, L. H. (2022). Monoamine neurotransmitters and mood swings: A dynamical systems approach. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 19(4), 4075–4083.
Quinn, P. D., & D’Onofrio, B. M. (2020). Nature versus nurture. Encyclopedia of Infant and Early Childhood Development (2nd ed., pp. 373–384). Elsevier.
Schiele, M. A., & Domschke, K. (2018). Epigenetics at the crossroads between genes, environment and resilience in anxiety disorders. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 17(3), 1–15.
Weissman, D. G., Bitran, D., Miller, A. B., Schaefer, J. D., Sheridan, M. A., & McLaughlin, K. A. (2019). Difficulties with emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic mechanism linking child maltreatment with the emergence of psychopathology.Development and Psychopathology, 31(3), 899–915.
Ye, J., Cai, S., Cheung, W. M., & Tsang, H. W. (2019). An East meets West approach to the understanding of emotion dysregulation in depression: From perspective to scientific evidence.Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1–12.