PSY 101: Chapter 12 (Health, Stress, and Positive Psychology)

What is Psychology? Foundations, Applications, and Integration 5E

what are the three aspects of stress?

stressors: stimuli a person perceives as a threat or challenge
reactions: reactions to stressors, physiological and behavioral changes
cope: coping with the stressors either successfully or not

what are the classified four types of stressors?

major life events, catastrophes and trauma, daily hassles, and conflict

what is the SRRS?

social readjustment rating scale developed by Holmes and Rahe, assigns specific events with life change units to assess how stressful life events are

what are some discrepancies with the SRRS?

voluntary or involuntary nature of the life change, how desirable an event is perceived to be, and whether the change is scheduled

what is the Undergraduate Stress Questionnaire?

designed to measure life event stress in college students, may provide a more accurate assessment of stress levels compared to the SRRS

how are posttraumatic growth or benefit-finding people described?

catastrophes or traumatic events change people’s lives in positive ways, such as building stronger relationships, emphasizing enjoyment in life, and initiating positive changes in physical and emotional health behaviors

what are daily hassles?

small, everyday irritations and frustrations

woman are more likely than men to perceive stress from concerns about what?

money, having a lot of things to do, health concerns, and trouble relaxing

which group of people report more daily hassles in their lives?

younger people and higher income and education

what is minority stress?

unique sources of stress for members of racial and sexual minority groups that come in the form of prejudice or stigma

what is resilience?

the ability to adapt well to significant stressors, build by facing adversity

what factors may help build resilience?

temperament, intelligence, internal locus of control, social support, maternal warmth and nurturance, positive peer relations, school engagement, successful recovery from significant stress, social cognitive skills (optimism, emotion recognition, attention-shifting), socioeconomic conditions

what are approach-approach conflicts?

a person must choose between two likeable or positive events

what are avoidance-avoidance conflicts?

a person must choose between two undesirable or negative events

what are approach-avoidance conflicts?

a person must choose between two events that have positive and negative aspects

what are multiple conflicts?

a person must choose between several alternatives, all with positive and negative features

what is primary appraisal?

our initial interpretation of an event as irrelevant, positive, or stressful

what is secondary appraisal?

our evaluation of what can be done to cope with or manage the stressor

what is the GAS?

general adaptation syndrome; the three phases that everyone experiences when a stressor is perceived: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion

what is the alarm reaction of GAS?

bodily responses that are immediately triggered when we initially appraise an event as stressful; activates the nervous and endocrine system

what is the HPA axis?

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; the complex interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the adrenal gland

what is the resistance stage of GAS?

body continues to repair itself and store energy to cope with the stressor, SNS and HPA axis continue to be activated

what is the exhaustion stage of GAS?

wear and tear on body begins, high levels of adrenaline and corticosteroids over a prolonged time damage heart and immune system

what is “tend and befriend”?

in response to stressors, women are more likely to come together in groups, seek social support, or care for offspring; related to oxytocin

what is psychoneuroimmunology?

field of study that investigates connections among psychology, the nervous system, and immune system functioning

what is immunosuppression?

when corticosteroids and endorphins released into our bloodstream during stress reduce and dampen our immune system

what is coping?

behaviors people engage in to manage stressors

what is problem-focused coping?

controlling or altering the environment that causes stress; includes strategies such as planning and active coping

what is emotion-focused coping?

controlling internal, subjective, and emotional reactions to stress; express emotions or alter thoughts or feelings to reduce perceived stress

what is cognitive reappraisal?

positive reappraisal or reframing; conscious process in which interpretations of stressful events are altered to reduce negative feelings

what are defense mechanisms?

an automatic and unconscious coping method to lessen the effects of emotions

what is the defense mechanism of denial?

refusing to accept or acknowledge the reality of a situation or idea

what is the defense mechanism of rationalization?

devising a plausible reason or motive to explain one’s behavior

what is the defense mechanism of reaction formation?

engaging in a behavior or attitude that is at the opposite extreme of one’s true motive or impulse

what is the defense mechanism of regression?

returning to an earlier stage of development in one’s behavior, thinking, or attitudes

what is the defense mechanism of sublimation?

directing emotions into an activity that is more constructive and socially acceptable

what is the defense mechanism of repression?

excluding wishes, impulses, ideas, or memories from consciousness

what is the defense mechanism of projecting?

attributing one’s own ideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people

what is the defense mechanism of displacement?

directing emotions toward a less threatening source

what are the benefits of exercise in regards to stress?

it raises energy levels, strengthens heart, lowers muscle tension, better rest, and body produces more serotonin and endorphins

what is progressive relaxation training?

learn to alternately tense and then relax each muscle group of the body in a systematic fashion

daily use of relaxation procedures give what benefits?

lessening symptoms of asthma, insomnia, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, chronic pain conditions, intestinal problems, and chronic anxiety

what is social support?

having close and positive relationships with others

what are the benefits of social support?

a longer life span, longer survival rate for those with cancer/heart disease, decrease the release of stress hormones, and reduce stress-induced immune responses

what is guided imagery?

usage of your mind to achieve a state of relaxation

what are characteristics of a type A person?

competitive, verbally aggressive, overcommitted to achieving, impatient, hostile attitude when frustrated, sense of time urgency, workaholic, and easily angered

what are characteristics of a type B person?

easygoing, calm, relaxed, patient, trusting, good-natured, lower need for achievement

what are characteristics of a type C person?

cautious, careful, detached, introspective, sensitive to criticism, serious, results oriented, suppressed emotion

what are characteristics of a type D person?

distressed, worrisome, isolated, irritated, sad, lonely, fear of rejection and disapproval, suppressed emotion

what is learned helplessness?

a person’s developed passive response to stressors based on their exposure to previously uncontrolled, negative events

what is a hardy personality?

a person that sees life as a series of challenges, a sense of personal commitment, and a perception of control over life and work

how do hardiness traits correspond to stress?

decreases stress and chances of developing illness

what are health-defeating behaviors?

behaviors that increase the chance of illness, disease, or death

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of chlamydia?

vaginal, oral, or anal; mother to newborn during vaginal birth

F: frequent and painful urination, lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge
M: burning/painful urination, slight penis discharge
typially asymptomatic

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of gonorrhea?

vaginal, oral, or anal; mother to newborn during vaginal birth

F: increased vaginal discharge, burning urination, irregular menstrual bleeding
M: yellowish/thick penile discharge, burning urination

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of syphilis

vaginal, oral, or anal; touching an infected chancre or sore

hard, round, painless chancre or sore appears at site of infection within 2-4 weeks

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of genital herpes?

vaginal, oral, or anal

painful, reddish blisters around genitals, thighs, butt, vagina, or cervix. burning urination, flu-like symptoms, vaginal discharge

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of HPV?

vaginal, oral, or anal

painless warts appear near genital area or anus; abnormal cell changes in cervix

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of HIV/AIDS?

sexual contact, infusion with contaminated blood, mother to child from pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding

flu-like symptoms that may disappear
fever, weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, susceptibility to infection

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of pubic lice?

sexual contact or contact with infested linens or toilet seats

intense itching in hairy regions of the body, especially the pubic area

what are the transmission modes and symptoms of scabies?

sexual contact or contact with infested linens or toilet seats

intense itching, reddish lines on skin, welts, and pus-filled blisters in affected area

what are health-promoting behaviors?

behaviors that decrease the chance of illness, disease, or death

what health problems come with being overweight or obese?

type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, heart disease, and some cancers