Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health in Psychology

Health psychology

a subfield of psychology that provides psychology's contribution to behavioral medicine

Psychoneuroimmunology

the study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affects the immune system and resulting health

Stress

the response of the body and mind to challenges or demands, characterized by physical, emotional, and mental reactions.

Eustress

Positive stress that enhances motivation, performance, and emotional well-being

Distress

Negative stress that decreases motivation

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Stressful or traumatic events in childhood that can have long-lasting effects on health and well-being throughout a person's life

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

a three-stage response that the body goes through when faced with stress

Alarm

the initial stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body reacts to a stressor with a 'fight-or-flight' response, activating stress hormones and physiological changes

Resistance

the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body tries to adapt and cope with a stressor, maintaining heightened alertness and stress hormone levels

Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

a physiological reaction to perceived threats that prepares the body to fight, flee, or freeze to enhance survival

Exhaustion

the final stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body's resources are depleted after prolonged stress, leading to decreased stress tolerance and potential health issues

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

Behavioral reaction to stress that involves nurturing activities to protect oneself and one's offspring, and seeking social support to reduce stress

Problem-Focused Coping

a coping strategy aimed at addressing the problem causing stress

Emotion-Focused Coping

a coping strategy aimed at managing emotional responses to stress

Coping

the process of managing stress and its effects

Meditation

a practice that involves focusing the mind to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state

Personal Control

the degree to which an individual feels in control of their life and circumstances

Learned Helplessness

a condition in which a person feels unable to control or change a situation due to repeated failures

External Locus of Control

the belief that outcomes are determined by external factors beyond one's control

Internal Locus of Control

the belief that one has control over their own life and outcomes

Self-Control

the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of temptations and impulses

Problem-focused coping

Involves directly managing or solving the source of stress to reduce its impact.

Emotion-focused coping

Managing the emotional response to stress rather than changing the stressful situation itself.

Positive Psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing to help individuals and communities to thrive.

Subjective well-being

Self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life.

Resilience

The ability to adapt and recover quickly from difficulties or change, maintaining psychological well-being in the face of adversity.

Feel-good, do-good phenomenon

The tendency for people to be more helpful and kind to others when they are in a good mood.

Gratitude

Recognizing positives to boost happiness and resilience.

Signature Strengths

Unique personal strengths that contribute to individual well-being.

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological changes experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances.

Aerobic Exercise

Exercises that reduce stress by releasing endorphins and lowering cortisol, improving mood, sleep, and confidence.

Mindfulness Meditation

Focusing on the present to reduce stress, promoting present awareness and enhancing emotional stability.

Wisdom

The ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on knowledge and experience.

Courage

The ability to confront fear, pain, or adversity.

Humanity

Compassion and kindness towards others.

Justice

Fairness and equity in treatment and opportunities.

Temperance

Self-control and moderation in behavior.

Transcendence

The ability to rise above limitations and connect with something greater.

Psychological Disorder

A condition characterized by dysfunction, distress, and stigma.

Dysfunction

Impairment in the normal functioning of an individual.

Distress

Emotional suffering or pain.

Stigma

A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

American Psychiatric Association

A professional organization of psychiatrists in the United States.

Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A manual used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders.

World Health Organization

A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A global standard for the diagnosis and classification of diseases and health conditions.

Biopsychosocial Model

An approach that looks at how biological, psychological, and social factors all contribute to mental health.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A model suggesting that some people are more likely to develop disorders due to their genetics, but stress can trigger these issues.

Medical Model

Treats psychological disorders like physical illnesses that can be fixed with medicine.

Psychological Disorder

A condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.

Characteristics of Psychological Disorders

Unusual behavior, causes distress, impacts daily life.

Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)

A book that helps doctors diagnose mental disorders.

Epigenetics

Studies how our environment can change how our genes work without changing the genes themselves.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Disorders stem from unresolved, unconscious conflict and impulses, often in one's childhood.

Humanistic Perspective

When a person has not attained self-fulfillment and when personal growth is blocked.

Behavioral Perspective

Maladaptive learned behaviors and associations.

Cognitive Perspective

Maladaptive thought patterns, including dysfunctional beliefs, attitudes, and emotional responses.

Biological Perspective

Mental disorders are caused by physiological and genetic factors, focusing on how brain function, neurochemistry, and genetics contribute to various disorders.

Evolutionary Perspective

Caused by behaviors and mental processes that are maladaptive reducing an individual's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.

Sociocultural Perspective

Maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Disorders that affect the development of the nervous system.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and communication.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

A group of disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.

Delusions

False beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that appear real but are created by the mind.

Disorganized Thinking

Incoherent or illogical thought processes that affect communication.

Negative Symptoms

Absence of normal emotional responses or behaviors.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Bipolar Disorders

Mood disorders characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression.

Phobias

Anxiety disorders characterized by excessive fear of specific objects or situations.

Agoraphobia

Anxiety disorder involving fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable.

Panic Disorder

Anxiety disorder marked by recurrent unexpected panic attacks.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear of social situations.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Chronic anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry about various aspects of life.

Specific Phobia

Anxiety disorder involving intense fear of a specific object or situation.

Acrophobia

Fear of heights.

Arachnophobia

Fear of spiders.

Panic Attacks

Sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes.

Culture-Bound Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders that are specific to certain cultural contexts.

Ataque de Nervios

A culturally specific syndrome characterized by emotional distress and physical symptoms.

Taijin Kyofusho

A Japanese culture-bound syndrome characterized by social anxiety and fear of offending others.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).

Obsessions

Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and unwanted.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession.

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders characterized by a disruption in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.

Dissociations

Disruptions in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Dissociative Amnesia

Inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Hypervigilance

State of increased alertness and sensitivity to potential threats.

Flashbacks

Involuntary re-experiencing of a traumatic event.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Emotional Detachment

Inability to connect emotionally with others.

Hostility

Unfriendly or antagonistic behavior.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Disorders characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behavior.

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

Eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Group of disorders that begin in the developmental period, affecting behavior, learning, and development.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)

Characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning.