PSYC1010 Test 3 Notes

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to stress, coping mechanisms, psychological disorders, and various theories and concepts in psychology.

Stress

The process of perceiving and responding to events that we view as threatening or challenging.

Stressors

Events that cause stress.

Catastrophes

Unpredictable, large-scale events that cause significant damage to emotional and physical health.

Significant Life Changes

Major life events such as death of a loved one or divorce that often contribute to stress.

Daily Hassles

Everyday irritants that cumulatively contribute to stress.

Fight-or-Flight Response

The body's reaction to perceived threats, mobilizing resources for survival.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Hans Selye's model that describes how the body responds to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Immune System

The body's defense against infections and diseases, which can be compromised by stress.

Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of how psychological factors interact with the nervous and immune systems.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

A leading cause of death often linked to stress, particularly in Type A personalities.

Type A Personality

Competitive, aggressive, and impatient; associated with higher CHD risk.

Type B Personality

Easygoing and relaxed; associated with lower CHD risk.

Pessimism

A negative outlook that is linked to a higher risk of developing heart disease.

Tend and Befriend

A behavioral response to stress more common in women, characterized by seeking support.

Problem-Focused Coping

Directly tackling a stressor; effective when the stressor is controllable.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Reducing emotional distress by seeking support or distraction; useful for uncontrollable stressors.

Perceived Control

Believing one has control over situations, which is linked to better health outcomes.

Learned Helplessness

A condition where individuals stop trying to escape after repeated exposure to uncontrollable situations.

Locus of Control

The degree to which individuals believe they can control events affecting them.

Self-Control

The ability to control impulses and delay gratification.

Optimism

Expecting positive outcomes, which can lead to better stress management and longer life.

Social Support

Close relationships that provide emotional help and improve physical health.

Exercise

Physical activity that can reduce stress and improve overall health.

Mindfulness Meditation

A practice that helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression through focused awareness.

Altruism

Unselfish concern for the well-being of others.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when others are present.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The discomfort experienced when one's beliefs conflict with their actions.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate personal traits and underestimate situational factors in others' behavior.

Groupthink

A cohesive group's desire for harmony that suppresses dissent and critical thinking.

Social Facilitation

The tendency to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness in groups, which can lead to impulsive behavior.

Mirror-Image Perceptions

Each side views itself as moral and the other as evil, often leading to conflict.

Reciprocity Norm

The expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

Social Exchange Theory

The idea that human relationships are formed by the use of a cost-benefit analysis.

Self-Esteem

One's overall sense of self-worth or personal value.

Self-Efficacy

An individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

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

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder that involves alternating periods of depression and mania.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A mental disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

A condition in which two or more distinct identities are present in—and alternately take control of—an individual.

Eating Disorders

Serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors negatively impacting health.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Coping Strategies

Techniques that individuals use to manage stress and difficult emotions.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)

A strategy to improve mental health through lifestyle changes.

Biomedical Therapy

Treats psychological disorders with medications or medical procedures.

What are the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

What are the three main types of stressors?

Catastrophes, significant life changes, and daily hassles.

What is the “tend-and-befriend” response, and who is more likely to exhibit it?

A stress response involving seeking and giving support, more common in women.

How does chronic stress affect the immune system?

It weakens the immune response, making the body more vulnerable to illness.

What personality type is most associated with heart disease risk?

Type A personality (competitive, aggressive, impatient).

What is the difference between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping?

Problem-focused coping addresses the stressor directly, while emotion-focused coping manages the emotional response to the stressor.

What is learned helplessness and who developed the concept?

It’s a condition where a person gives up after repeated failures or lack of control; developed by Martin Seligman.

What is an internal locus of control?

The belief that one controls their own destiny and outcomes through effort and actions.

How does social support affect health?

It reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the immune system.

What are two effective techniques for reducing stress?

Exercise and mindfulness meditation.

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The tendency to overestimate personal traits and underestimate situational factors when evaluating others’ behavior.

How do actions influence attitudes according to cognitive dissonance theory?

When attitudes and behaviors conflict, people may change their attitudes to reduce discomfort.

What is the foot-in-the-door phenomenon?

Agreeing to a small request increases the likelihood of agreeing to a larger request later.

How does role-playing affect behavior and beliefs?

Acting in a role can change attitudes to align with the behavior being performed.

What is attribution theory?

The theory that we explain behavior by attributing it to either internal dispositions or external situations.

What did Solomon Asch’s experiment reveal about conformity?

People will conform to a group’s incorrect judgment even when they know the right answer.

What is normative social influence?

Conforming to gain approval or avoid disapproval from others.

What is informational social influence?

Conforming because you believe others have accurate information.

What was the key finding in Milgram’s obedience study?

People are likely to obey authority figures even when it involves harming another person.

What is deindividuation?

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint that occurs in group settings.

What is the mere exposure effect?

The tendency to develop a preference for things merely because we are familiar with them.

What is the difference between passionate and companionate love?

Passionate love is intense and arousing, while companionate love is deep, steady, and affectionate.

What is the bystander effect?

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help when others are present.

What is the reciprocity norm?

The expectation that we should help those who have helped us

What is a superordinate goal and how does it reduce conflict?

A goal shared by opposing groups that can only be achieved through cooperation, reducing hostility.

What are the three parts of Freud’s structure of personality?

The id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality).

What is a defense mechanism and what is its purpose?

An unconscious mental strategy used to reduce anxiety by distorting reality.

What is self-actualization in Maslow’s theory?

The highest human need, representing the fulfillment of one’s potential.

What three traits did Carl Rogers say promote a growth-promoting environment?

Genuineness, acceptance (unconditional positive regard), and empathy.

What is the focus of humanistic personality theories?

Personal growth, self-awareness, and reaching one’s full potential.

What is the Big Five personality trait model?

A personality theory that includes Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

What is reciprocal determinism?

Bandura’s concept that behavior, internal personal factors, and environment all interact and influence each other.

What does the MMPI measure?

It is a widely used personality inventory designed to assess psychological disorders and personality traits.

What is self-efficacy?

One’s belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish tasks.

How does the social-cognitive perspective view personality?

As influenced by the interaction between traits and social context.

How do humanistic psychologists view people?

As inherently good and motivated to reach their full potential.

What is the unconscious according to Freud?

A reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories that influence behavior.

What is the Oedipus complex?

A child’s unconscious sexual desire for the opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward the same-sex parent.

What is fixation in Freud’s theory?

Lingering focus on a psychosexual stage where conflicts were unresolved.

What is unconditional positive regard?

An attitude of total acceptance toward another person, central to Carl Rogers’ therapy.

What is the spotlight effect?

The tendency to overestimate how much others notice and evaluate our appearance or actions.

What is self-serving bias?

The tendency to perceive ourselves favorably, attributing success to ourselves and failure to external factors.

What is narcissism?

Excessive self-love and self-absorption.

How is self-esteem different from self-efficacy?

Self-esteem is your overall self-worth; self-efficacy is your belief in your ability to succeed.

What is possible selves theory?

A concept suggesting we think about ideal, feared, and expected versions of ourselves.

What are the three D’s used to define a psychological disorder?

Deviance, distress, and dysfunction.

What is the purpose of the DSM-5?

To classify and diagnose mental disorders based on standardized criteria.

What is the medical model of mental illness?

A perspective that sees psychological disorders as diseases with physical causes and possible cures.

What is the biopsychosocial approach?

An integrated approach that considers biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors in mental illness.

What is the stigma of labeling disorders?

Labels can bias perceptions and lead to discrimination or misunderstanding.

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

A disorder characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various things for six months or more.

What distinguishes panic disorder from GAD?

Panic disorder involves sudden, intense episodes of terror and physical symptoms like chest pain.

What is a specific phobia?

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance.

What are obsessions and compulsions in OCD?

Obsessions are unwanted thoughts; compulsions are repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety.