AP Psychology Unit 5: Health Psychology and Mental Health Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering stress, positive psychology, psychological disorders, and various treatment perspectives based on Unit 5 lecture notes.

Stress

The body's response to challenges or demands.

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates, such as excitement before a performance.

Distress

Negative stress causing overwhelm or anxiety.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Early life stress such as abuse, neglect, or instability, which can affect lifelong health outcomes.

Positive Psychology

A field that focuses on what makes people happy, resilience, and long-term well-being instead of dysfunction.

Signature Strengths

Naturally strong personal traits like wisdom, courage, and humanity that increase happiness when used.

Post-Traumatic Growth

Personal growth, new perspectives, and increased strength that can occur following trauma.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A description of three physiological stress stages: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

Alarm Stage

The immediate reaction to stress involving the activation of the sympathetic nervous system for fight or flight.

Resistance Stage

The stage of GAS where the body attempts to cope, maintain activation, and achieve stability.

Exhaustion Stage

The depletion of resources if stress persists, leading to burnout and increased illness risk.

Tend and Befriend

A theory that individuals, especially women, seek social support and provide care instead of choosing fight or flight.

Problem-focused coping

Tackling the stressor directly to manage the situation.

The Three D's of Psychological Disorders

The criteria used to define disorders: dysfunction (interferes with daily life), distress (emotional suffering), and deviance (violates social norms).

Biopsychosocial Model

A model suggesting disorders arise from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diathesis-Stress Model

The theory that genetic or biological predispositions combine with stressful life events to trigger disorders.

Eclectic Approach

An integrating method that uses multiple psychological perspectives in diagnosis and treatment.

ADHD

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder involving social communication difficulties and restricted behaviors.

Delusions

False beliefs, such as those of persecution or grandeur, often associated with schizophrenia.

Catatonia

A state of excitement or stupor often found in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Flat affect

A symptom of schizophrenia involving reduced emotional expression.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A depressive disorder characterized by severe and persistent sadness.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

A depressive disorder with less severe symptoms than MDD but a longer duration.

Hypomania

A less severe form of mania associated with Bipolar II disorder.

Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder involving the fear of situations where escape might be difficult.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by constant, persistent anxiety.

Dissociative Amnesia

Stress-induced memory loss, which may include a fugue state.

PTSD

A trauma-related disorder characterized by flashbacks, avoidance, insomnia, and hypervigilance.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss efforts.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A side effect of some psychotropic medications causing involuntary movements.

Therapeutic Alliance

A strong, trusting relationship between a therapist and a client.

Non-maleficence

An ethical principle in psychology to do no harm.

Fidelity

An ethical principle focusing on building trust and keeping commitments.

Psychodynamic Therapy

A therapy type focused on exploring the unconscious mind through techniques like free association.

Humanistic Therapy

A therapy focused on personal growth and self-actualization, using active listening and unconditional positive regard.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A therapy that combines cognitive methods (correcting distorted thinking) and behavioral methods.