Written Assignment Unit 3

UoPeople

PSYC 1504 – Introduction to Psychology

Dr. Joseph Lucero

September 25th, 2024

Part I - The most commonly known and labeled senses are sight, hearing, touch, taste, and

smell. Considering this, please address the following

Do you think that there may be senses which do not necessarily receive information only

from the environment, but rather from within us as well? (For example, how do you sense

that you are hungry? If you hold your breath, which sense ‘senses’ that you need air? How

do you sense the need for belonging?)

We are provided the knowledge since it was presented to us that we only 5 senses. Those

5 senses are in fact everything to do with the external world. From hearing touching, tasting,

smelling and seeing are all outside of our body and we perceive it. When it comes to sensing

something, the book, Psychology, defines it as “Sensory receptors are specialized neurons that

respond to specific types of stimuli”. In other words, something has passed by our receptor that

has caused a sensation within us. (Spielman et al., 2017, p. 150) Since we have receptor all over

our body. Everything communicates from within us to our spinal cord. Some signals travels

through sensory nerves without the need to go to the brain to react. (Spielman et al., 2017, p.89)

Having that said neurologically speaking we have more sense that we are not in control

of. For example, the 5 senses if I want to use them, I can. If I don’t, I don’t need to use. For

example, I can close my eyes and not perceive the colors around me. I can not use hands and not

feel the things around me. So, when comes to other senses out of my control, that is when my

body starts to use other senses that I cannot control, such as hunger. The stomach would send a

signal to through the spinal cord indicating its hungry. If I do not obey, a headache is then

produces. If I continue, my body will react to produce the feeling of dizziness. Regarding the

need to bread, it’s an automatic sensation to live. The body know it needs oxygen to function. It
needs oxygen in the brain to react. The lack of oxygen makes the body react to push you to

breath.

Aristotle is credited for naming the 5 senses we mentioned previously. “However,

neurologist would count, and agree on, at least nine senses.” Some say we have at least 21 more

sense; others will say 53 because the senses can extend beyond the physiological sensor

definition. (Francis, 2020). “We also have sensory systems that provide information about

balance (the vestibular sense), body position and movement (proprioception and kinesthesia),

pain (nociception), and temperature (thermoception)”. (Spielman et al., 2017, p. 150). Also,

those are triggered by the sensory system and our mind can process that information and

therefore respond to it.

If you think that we may have more senses than the 5 noted above, would you provide your

opinion on why you think the dominant scientific community may not have considered

more than the typical 5 senses? If you wish, you may use other references to strengthen or

support your discussion.

Based on the information we have read and other information regarding this topic, we

have more senses that our body controls. The reason why the scientific community may not have

considered more than these 5 senses, it because, we have control of these 5 senses. We

physically are in control of them and use them when we want to. The other senses such as,

thermoception, nociception, equilibrioception, proprioception is more probably on the

neurological side of things. (Francis, 2020). These senses we have no control over and they

automatically response to a stimuli and therefore react. So they fall in two different categories of

the ones we control and the ones we don’t.

How does a “definition” (for example, how we define the 5 senses) help or hinder us in

knowing the parameters of a concept, think about a concept’s potential for expansion, or

keep a concept within known boundaries?

Do you think that the definition of sensation needs to be expanded? Why?

When we have a define parameters of the 5 senses concept, we all have a clear focus in

mind of what we are speaking about. We know that our eyes can see colors. We know that we

can here certain frequencies. We know that there are certain tastes buds to distinguish flavor. We

know that we can touch different objects. Knowing a set of definition helps us understand us as a

whole.

Its ok to expand the definition of sensation since we now know that there are other senses

that are stimulated and therefore, we react that are more internal. Everything from our body to

our mind works together, therefore, why not include the rest of the sense? Maybe keeping it

separated from physical operated senses and neurological operated senses should be better to

assist on what we have as humans.

Part II - What is the role of operant conditioning in our development of reading skills? How do

these skills become stronger and more “automatic”? Do you think that many of our “skills”

follow the same path of development, and why?

Operant conditioning are behaviors guided by positive reinforcement or negative

reinforcement. (Spielman et al., 2017, p. 197). In the case of developing our reading skills we

can have it both ways. Some might say that developing their reading skills will help them in the

long runs and therefore we strive to continue to educate ourselves. Others might see reading as

something painful and not something they would want to do. For example, in my case, I have
encountered that I have read more in this subject than any other subject in school. Even though I

should see it as a learning experience I sometimes see it as punishment, since if I don’t read, I

cannot do the quizzes, or decently answer the question I’m being asked. My comprehension

skills are not that great, so I have to read again and again to comprehend a lesson. Since we only

have 1 week or less to read and write, it stresses me out. But reading this phycology book, has

helped me understand more of how we react, do and we perceive things. Its very interesting.

Many of our skills do follow the same path of operant conditioning. We set a purpose of

why we do things or why we sharpen our skills, we will eventually push ourselves to be better. If

its for more money, then we will develop that skill. If we know it will help us, then we will

develop that skill. Even given us reminders of why we do things, it helps us work on our skills.
 References

Frances, C. (2020, October 15). How many senses do we have? Sensory Trust.

https://www.sensorytrust.org.uk/blog/how-many-senses-do-we-have

Spielman, R., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M. & Perlmutter, M. (2017).

Psychology. OpenStax College, Rice University.