Unit 5: Mental & Physical Health

health psychology

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

psychoneurimmunology

the study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect the 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) often provide support to others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend)

coronary heart disease

the clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle; the 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

the idea that "releasing" aggressive energy (through action or fantasy) relieves aggressive urges

coping

alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioural 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, and that help individuals and communities to thrive

subjective well-being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life. used along with measures of objective well-being (for example, physical and economic indicators) to evaluate people's quality of 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 (of sounds, of lights, of income) 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, which over time helps us build novel and meaningful skills and resilience 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 most people cope with stress and recover from adversity and even trauma

aerobic exercise

sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; also 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 other's actions or recognize their own good fortune

psychological disorder

a disturbance in people's thoughts, emotions, or behaviours that causes distress or suffering and impairs their daily lives

medical model

the concept that diseases - in this case psychological disorders, have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and, in most cases, cured, often through treatment in a hospital

diathesis-stress model

the concept that genetic predispositions (diathesis) combine with environmental stressors (stress) to influence psychological disorder

epigenetics

"above" or "in addition to" (epi) genetics; the study of molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression (without a DNA change)

DSM-5-TR

the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision; a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders

eustress

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

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

alarm reaction phase

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

fight-flight-freeze response

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

resistance phase

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

exhaustion phase

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

posttrauamtic growth

positive psychological changes experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life cirumstances, leading to a higher level of personal or interpersonal functioning

positive emotions

feelings that foster enjoyment, interest, and contentment, and contribute to overall well-being and happiness

signature strengths & virtues

core characteristics that a person naturally possess and expresses, which contribute to fulfilling, authentic, and engaged living

wisdom and knowledge (virtue)

creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective

courage (virtue)

bravery, persistance, intregrity, vitality

humanity (virtue)

love, kindness, social intelligence

justice (virtue)

citizenship, fairness, leadership

temperance (virtue)

forgiveness and mercy, humility/modesty, prudence, self-regulation

transcendence (virtue)

appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humour, spirituality

anxiety disorders

a group of disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety and related maladaptive behaviours

social anxiety disorder

intense fear and avoidance of social situations

generalized anxiety disorder

an anxiety disorder in which a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal

panic disorder

an anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations; often followed by worry over a possible next attack

agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide open places, where one may experience a loss of control and panic

specific phobia

an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object, activity, or situation

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

a disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions), or both

hoarding disorder

a persistent difficulty parting with possessions, regardless of their value

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

a disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, numbness of feeling, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

trauma-and-stressor-related disorders

a group of disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is followed by psychological distress

depressive disorders

a group of disorders characterized by an enduring sad, empty, or irritable mood, along with physical and cognitive changes that affect a person's ability to function

bipolar disorders

a group of disorders in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania

major depressive disorder

a disorder in which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or another medical condition, two or more weeks with five or more symptoms, at least one of which must be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure

persistent depressive disorder

a disorder in which people experience a depressed mood on more days than not for at least two years

bipolar I disorder

the most severe form, in which people experience a euphoric, talkative, highly energetic, and overly ambitious state that lasts a week or longer

mania

a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state in which dangerously poor judgement is common

bipolar II disorder

a less severe form of bipolar in which people move between depression and a milder hypomania

rumination

compulsive fretting; overthinking our problems and their causes

abnormal psychology

the study of unusual patterns of behaviour; emotion, and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder

clinical psychology

the branch of psychology that assesses, diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders, utilizing various therapeutic methods and interventions to improve individuals' mental health and well-being

international classification of mental disorders (ICD)

global standard for reporting and categorizing diseases, including mental and behavioural disorders, used by healthcare professionals to diagnose conditions and track health trends worldwide

deviation

significant departure from accepted social behaviours and cultural expectations, used as a criterion to identify and diagnose abnormal behaviours and psychological disorders in clinical settings

distress

intense and prolonged emotional suffering that impairs an individual's ability to function in daily life, often used as a key criterion for diagnosis

dysfunction

the disruption in cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning that significantly impairs an individual's ability to perform normal daily activities

biological perspective

mental disorders are caused by physiological and genetic factors, focusing on how brain function, neurochemistry, and genetics contribute to psychological conditions

behavioural perspective

suggests that mental disorders arise from maladaptive learned behaviours and associations, focusing on how inappropriate conditioning and reinfrcement of behaviours contribute to psychological issues

psychodynamic perspective

mental disorders stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts and impulses, often originating in childhood, that influence current behaviour and emotional states

humanistic perspective

emphasizes that mental disorders arise when individuals' innate potential for self-fulfillment and personal growth is blocked, often due to failures in achieving self-acceptance and meaningful personal goals

cognitive perspective

proposes that mental disorders are caused by maladaptive thought patterns, including dysfunctional beliefs, attitudes, and emotional responses, which negatively affect behaviour and emotional well-being

evolutionary perspective

suggests that mental disorders can arise from behaviours and mental processes that are maladaptive, reducing an individual's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment

sociocultural perspective

mental disorders stem from maladaptive social and cultural relationships and dynamics, emphasizing the influence of societal norms and interactions on mental health

eclectic approach

an approach to psychotherapy that uses techniques from various forms of therapy

biopsychosocial model

psychological disorders result from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, emphasizing the comprehensive and interconnected nature of influences on mental health

acrophobia

fear of heights

arachnophobia

fear of spiders

ataque de nervios

episodes of intense emotional distress, draamatic expressions of emotion, such as screaming or crying, and sometimes uncontrollable physical symptoms like shaking or feeling as if one is suffocating

taijin kyofusho

predominantly observed in Japan, characterized by an intense fear of offending or embarrassing others through one's bodily functions or appearance, leading to significant social anxiety and avoidance behaviours

obsessions

recurrent, unwanted thoughts

compulsions

repetitive behaviours or mental acts

schizophrenia spectrum disorders

a group of disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking or speech, disorganized or unusual motor behaviour, and negative symptoms (such as diminished emotional expression); includes schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder

psychotic disorders

a group of disorders marked by irrational ideas, distorted perceptions, and a loss of contact with reality

delusion

a false belief, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders

chronic schizophrenia

(also called process schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood. as people age, psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten.

acute schizophrenia

(also called reactive schizophrenia) a form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to an emotionally traumatic event, and has extended recovery periods.

neurodevelopmental disorders

group of disorders that begin in the developmental period, characterized by symptoms that affect behaviour, learning, and development, focusing on whether behaviours are appropriate for the person's age or maturity level

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development, leading to difficulties in maintaining focus, controlling behaviour, and staying organized

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

characterized by persistent challenges in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities, varying widely in severity and impact on daily functioning

anorexia nervosa

psychological disorder characterized by restricted food intake, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, leading to significant weight loss and health complications

bulimia nervosa

characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviours, such as vomiting or excessive exercise, to prevent weight gain, causing significant physical and psychological distress

delusions

false beliefs strongly held despite clear evidence to the contrary

hallucinations

false sensory experiences without external stimuli, most commonly involving hearing voices that others do not hear