Unit 5 - Stress, Health, and Positive Psychology

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

traumatic events experienced in childhood that ca negatively impact long-term mental and physical health

Alarm Reaction

phase of General Adaption Syndrome when there is the initial reaction; fight, flight, or freeze response

Courage Virtue

virtue of bravery, persistence, and integrity

Distress

negative stress that can be overwhelming and harmful

Emotion-Focused Coping

managing emotional response (e.g., meditation, exercise)

Eustress

positive stress that motivates and enhances performance

Exhaustion Phase

phase of General Adaption Syndrome when prolonged stress leads to deception of resources, causing potential health issues

Fight, Flight, Freeze Response

alarm reaction; an automatic physiological reaction to stressful or threatening situations

General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)

the body's three-stage response to stress

Gratitude

a positive emotional state of appreciation and thankfulness for the people, experiences, and things in one's life

Happiness

a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

Humanity Virtue

virtue of kindness and social intelligence

Hypertension

also known as high blood pressure; a chronic medical condition characterized by an abnormally elevated blood pressure in the arteries

Immune Suppression

a decrease in the activation or efficacy of the immune system, leading to a reduced ability to fight off infections and diseases

Justice Virtue

virtue of fairness, leadership, and teamwork

Positive Emotions

feelings that express a positive affect, such as happiness, relief, or contentment

Positive Psychology

focuses on understanding what helps people live fulfilling and meaningful lives

Positive Objective Experiences

a situation or event that is enjoyable or beneficial and based on factual measurable data (rather than personal opinion or feelings)

Positive Subjective Experiences

valued feelings and emotions like contentment, satisfaction, hope, optimism, flow, and happiness, focusing one the individual’s personal well-being and experiences

Problem-Focused Coping

directly addressing the stressor (e.g., making a study plan)

Psychological Health

encompasses a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being

Resilience

the ability to bounce back from adversity

Resistance Phase

phase of General Adaption Syndrome in which the body attempts to adapt to stress

Signature Strengths

personal qualities that come naturally and contribute to well-being when applied effectively

Stress

the process by which we perceive and respond to challenging or threatening events

Stressors

challenging or threatening events in our lives

Subjective Well-Being

an individual's personal evaluation and experience of their own life satisfaction, happiness, and positive emotions

Temperance Virtue

virtue of self-regulation, humility, and prudence

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

alternative to fight-and-flight, where individuals seek social support; more common in women (linked to oxytocin release)

Transcendence Virtue

virtue of gratitude, spirituality, and hope

Virtues

core character strengths, positive traits that enable individuals to thrive and achieve well-being

Well-Being

the subjective experience of positivity and satisfaction in one's life, encompassing both mental and emotional health, as well as overall quality of life

Wisdom Virtue

virtue of creativity, curiosity, and love of learning