Unit 9 - Health and Positive Psychology

Flashcards covering core concepts of health psychology and stress management.

Health Psychology

The field of psychology that focuses on the interaction between physical and mental health, particularly on comorbidity and stress management.

Stress

The arousal of the autonomic nervous system in response to demands or expectations, characterized by the fight-flight-freeze response.

Acute Stress

Short-term stress

Chronic Stress

Prolonged stress resulting from ongoing situations

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates and drives individuals forward, enhancing performance.

Distress

Negative stress that results in harmful effects on an individual.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Experiences that can have a lasting impact on physical, psychological, emotional, and behavioral development.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage model that describes the physiological response to stress: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

Alarm stage

fight or flight activated by sympathetic nervous system

Resistance stage

adapting and coping with continued stress

Exhaustion stage

Physical and psychological resources are greatly depleted

Cortisol

A steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands that acts as an immunosuppressant during stress.

Problem-Focused Coping

A strategy that involves directly addressing and managing the problem causing stress.

Emotion-Focused Coping

A strategy that involves addressing the emotional response related to the stressor rather than the problem itself.

Tend and Befriend Theory

A model describing how people, especially women, respond to stress by caring for others and seeking social support.

PERMA

An acronym in positive psychology representing Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments.