In everyday life, we often hear the word “arousal”. It is most common to attribute this feeling to a state of increased physical activity or sexual desire. However, its use in speech does not always relate to the physiological processes of the body, for example, the initiation of a criminal case. To understand why such a spectrum of meanings opens in completely different areas, we will first deal with the term itself.
What does the word "excitement" mean?
First, it is worth noting that this process directly depends on the excitability of the cells, namely on their ability to respond to stimuli. In other words, arousal is an active reaction of cells to external influences. Almost all types of tissues of a living organism have excitability: nervous, glandular, muscle. When excited, cells behave differently: nerve cells disseminate information about the acting factor, being its carrier, and muscle and glandular ones contract and activate secretion.
Process
First, when excitation occurs on the cell membrane, a complex chemical process begins - the appearance of bioelectric potentials. Initially, ionized potassium and sodium are unevenly distributed over its entire surface. As soon as the stimulus acts, the charge disappears in the ions, and then its recovery. After the particles begin to move along the membrane through certain channels, which are activated upon excitation. And so the movement begins. Along with this, internal processes in the cell itself also change.
Stages
There are several stages of excitation, the significance of each of which is important for the body in its own way:
- Appearance. When the cells are just beginning to change the processes occurring in them.
- Build-up. When excitation affects more and more areas, the movement of ions and other changes gain speed and scale.
- Recession. When the processes reach their peak, after which the cell activity gradually decreases.
Studies say that all stages can be beneficial to the body. If we consider in general what excitement is, it turns out that this is one of the ways to relieve tension, stress and finally relax. First, violent activity, changes begin in the cells, and then everything returns to normal.
Kinds
Different types of cells are susceptible to excitations, but we will pay special attention to the nervous ones. The consequences that are formed in this condition affect the mental health of a person.
What is hallucinatory delusional excitement ? This state is characterized by various kinds of visions with monsters, enemies, as well as an obsession with the idea of ​​constant persecution. It is connected, as a rule, with one way, but in different variations. A person in this state is able to rush at people, show aggression, claiming that everyone wants him to be evil. May even cause bodily injury.
Catatonic arousal . Chaotic motor activity, often accompanied by delusional incoherent statements that are incomprehensible to other people. A person can be aggressive, negative, his facial expressions in many cases do not coincide with the emotional state. May fall into a stupor and then become exalted again.
Hebephrenic arousal . In this state, the patient behaves foolishly, makes faces, makes faces, deliberately distorts speech, can dance or perform other ridiculous actions. If he expresses some thoughts, then often their meaning is incomprehensible to others.
What is depressive agitation ? A similar state manifests itself when a person is in a depressed mood for a long time. The patient, suffering, begins to rush from side to side, thinking that this will ease his mental anguish. He is raving about a suicide mania, which, he believes, should free him from suffering.
Manic arousal . It is divided into three stages: first, the mood unnaturally rises, then rapidly changing thoughts, and finally motor activity begins. Gayness can be replaced by rage, it is impossible to calm such a person. Such arousal is most dangerous.
Epileptic arousal. When a motor disorder (epilepsy) occurs, some patients also develop a mental disorder, accompanied by horrific visions and subsequent aggressive and destructive actions.
Psychogenic arousal . Occurs after an extreme event. It manifests itself in cyclical actions of the same type, or vice versa, in chaotic ones. There is a memory disorder. In this state, a person can commit suicide.
Psychopathic arousal . It is distinguished by aggression aimed at one person, while being demonstrative in nature. Upon reaching the peak of exaltation, a hysterical seizure is possible.
Other meanings of the word “excitement”
As a rule, some words can be found in different areas that are not related to each other. In addition to the medical meaning discussed above, “arousal” as a term is used in other areas. For instance:
- In physics, this is the name of the state of particles that collide and are charged from each other by energy.
- In astronomy, the term is used to indicate the activity of stars and other celestial bodies.
- Do not forget about criminal law, where this word is equivalent to a legal term.
So, the word "excitement" means awakening or occurrence, therefore it is used to describe processes that change the course of things. Now let’s take a closer look at the legal term and its meaning.
Criminal proceedings
This act has a special place in the upcoming investigation. First, all data about the incident or crime is collected: evidence and disproving facts. Only after that a decision is made whether to open a criminal case, since not every incident can be regarded as a crime. What is legal excitement? Here, this term is used to indicate the beginning of the criminal process, that is, its first active stage - the investigation.
The Russian language is so rich that one word can be used in completely different areas, while meaning approximately the same thing.