Unit 5 AP Psych

health psychology

A subfield of psychology that explores the impact of psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors on health and wellness.

psychoneuroimmunology

The study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect our immune system and resulting health.

stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging.

approach and avoidance motives

The drive to move toward (approach) or away from (avoid) a stimulus.

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases — alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

tend-and-befriend response

Under stress, people (especially women) may nurture themselves and others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend).

coronary heart disease

The clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle; a leading cause of death in many developed countries.

Type A

Friedman and Rosenman’s term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people.

Type B

Friedman and Rosenman’s term for easygoing, relaxed people.

catharsis

In psychology, the idea that 'releasing' aggressive energy (through action or fantasy) relieves aggressive urges.

coping

Alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods.

problem-focused coping

Attempting to alleviate stress directly — by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor.

emotion-focused coping

Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to our stress reaction.

personal control

Our sense of controlling our environment rather than feeling helpless.

learned helplessness

The hopelessness and passive resignation humans and other animals learn when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.

external locus of control

The perception that outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate.

internal locus of control

The perception that we control our own fate.

self-control

The ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards.

positive psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of promoting strengths and virtues that foster well-being, resilience, and positive emotions.

subjective well-being

Self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life.

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

People’s tendency to be helpful when in a good mood.

adaptation-level phenomenon

Our tendency to form judgments relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience.

relative deprivation

The perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves.

broaden-and-build theory

Proposes that positive emotions broaden our awareness and help us build skills that improve well-being.

character strengths and virtues

A classification system to identify positive traits; organized into categories of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

resilience

The personal strength that helps people cope with stress and recover from adversity.

aerobic exercise

Sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; helps alleviate depression and anxiety.

mindfulness meditation

A reflective practice in which people attend to current experiences in a nonjudgmental and accepting manner.

gratitude

An appreciative emotion people often experience when they benefit from others’ actions or recognize their good fortune.

psychological disorder

A disturbance in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that causes distress or impairment.

medical model

The concept that diseases, including psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed and treated.

diathesis-stress model

The concept that genetic predispositions combine with environmental stressors to influence psychological disorders.

epigenetics

The study of molecular mechanisms by which environments influence genetic expression, without changing DNA.

DSM-5-TR

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision.

anxiety disorders

A group of disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety.

social anxiety disorder

Intense fear and avoidance of social situations.

generalized anxiety disorder

An anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense and apprehensive.

panic disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense dread.

agoraphobia

Fear or avoidance of situations where one may experience panic.

specific phobia

An anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts and actions.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A disorder characterized by haunting memories and severe distress following a traumatic experience.

trauma- and stressor-related disorders

Disorders in which exposure to a traumatic event is followed by psychological distress.

depressive disorders

A group of disorders characterized by a sad, empty, or irritable mood.

bipolar disorders

A group of disorders in which a person alternates between depression and a state of mania.

major depressive disorder

A disorder in which a person experiences five or more symptoms lasting at least two weeks.

persistent depressive disorder

A disorder where people experience a depressed mood for more days than not for at least two years.

bipolar I disorder

The most severe form of bipolar disorder, characterized by a long-lasting manic state.

mania

A hyperactive, wildly optimistic state with poor judgment.

bipolar II disorder

A less severe form of bipolar disorder with milder hypomanic episodes.

rumination

Compulsive fretting; overthinking problems and their causes.

schizophrenia spectrum disorders

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

psychotic disorders

A group of disorders marked by irrational ideas and distorted perceptions.

delusion

A false belief, often of persecution or grandeur, accompanying psychotic disorders.

chronic schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia where symptoms appear by late adolescence or early adulthood.

acute schizophrenia

A form of schizophrenia that frequently occurs in response to a traumatic event.

dissociative disorders

A rare group of disorders characterized by disruptions in consciousness and identity.

dissociative identity disorder (DID)

A rare disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct identities.

dissociative amnesia

A disorder in which people experience memory gaps related to trauma.

personality disorders

A group of disorders characterized by enduring behavior patterns deviating from cultural expectations.

antisocial personality disorder

A personality disorder with a lack of conscience for wrongdoing.

feeding and eating disorders

Disorders characterized by altered consumption of food that impairs health.

anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and distorted body image.

bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behavior.

neurodevelopmental disorders

Abnormalities in the nervous system that start in childhood and affect behavior.

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A disorder marked by limitations in communication and rigid interests.

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A disorder marked by extreme inattention and hyperactivity.

deinstitutionalization

The process of moving people with psychological disorders out of institutions.

psychotherapy

Treatment involving psychological techniques for overcoming difficulties.

biomedical therapy

Prescribed medications or procedures that act on the person's physiology.

eclectic approach

An approach to therapy that uses techniques from various forms of therapy.

psychoanalysis (technique)

Freud’s therapeutic technique involving free associations and interpretations.

resistance

In psychoanalysis, blocking from consciousness of anxiety-laden material.

interpretation

The analyst’s noting of supposed meanings of events in psychoanalysis.

transference

The transfer of emotions linked with other relationships to the therapist.

psychodynamic therapy

Therapy that seeks to enhance self-insight by addressing unconscious forces.

insight therapies

Therapies that improve psychological functioning by increasing awareness.

person-centered therapy

A humanistic therapy developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes personal growth.

active listening

Empathic listening in which the listener seeks clarification and reflects back.

unconditional positive regard

A nonjudgmental and accepting attitude that helps clients develop self-awareness.

behavior therapy

Therapy that uses learning principles to reduce unwanted behaviors.

counterconditioning

Behavior therapy procedures that evoke new responses to stimuli triggering unwanted behaviors.

exposure therapies

Techniques that treat anxieties by exposing individuals to their fears.

systematic desensitization

A type of exposure therapy that associates relaxation with anxiety-provoking stimuli.

virtual reality exposure therapy

A counterconditioning technique using simulations to treat anxiety.

aversive conditioning

Associating an unpleasant state with an unwanted behavior.

token economy

An operant conditioning procedure in which individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors.

cognitive therapy

Therapy that teaches adaptive thinking patterns to improve emotional responses.

rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT)

A cognitive therapy that challenges illogical attitudes and assumptions.

cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

An integrative therapy combining cognitive and behavior therapy techniques.

group therapy

Therapy conducted with groups providing benefits from shared experiences.

family therapy

Therapy treating individuals in the context of their family system.

confirmation bias

The tendency to seek information that supports our preconceptions.

meta-analysis

A statistical procedure for analyzing results of multiple studies for conclusions.

evidence-based practice

Clinical decision making integrating the best research with clinical expertise.

therapeutic alliance

A bond of trust and understanding between therapist and client.

psychopharmacology

The study of the effects of drugs on mind and behavior.

antipsychotic drugs

Drugs used to treat schizophrenia and severe thought disorders.

antianxiety drugs

Drugs used to control anxiety and agitation.

antidepressant drugs

Drugs used to treat depressive and anxiety disorders.