Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health (165)

Health psychology

The study of how psychological factors influence health and illness.

Stress

A psychological and physical response to perceived challenges or threats.

Hedonic adaptation

The process by which people become used to changes in their lives, returning to a stable level of happiness.

Hypertension

High blood pressure that can lead to health complications.

Immune suppression

A reduction in the effectiveness of the immune system.

Stressors

Events or situations that cause stress.

Eustress (motivating)

Positive stress that can motivate individuals to take action.

Distress (debilitating)

Negative stress that can lead to anxiety or health issues.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events that occur in a child's life that can have long-lasting effects on health.

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

The body’s predictable response to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Alarm reaction phase

The initial reaction to a stressor, followed by physiological changes.

Resistance phase

The body adapts to the stressor, but resources become depleted over time.

Flight-flight-freeze response

The body’s automatic response to perceived danger, leading to fight, flight, or freeze.

Exhaustion phase

The stage when the body's resources are depleted due to prolonged stress.

Tend-and-befriend theory

A theory suggesting that people respond to stress by nurturing and seeking social support.

Problem-focused coping

Coping strategies aimed at solving the problem causing stress.

Emotion-focused coping

Coping strategies aimed at managing emotions associated with stress.

Positive psychology

The study of positive aspects of human life, such as happiness and well-being.

Well-being

A positive state that encompasses health, happiness, and prosperity.

Resilience

The ability to recover from adversity, trauma, and stress.

Positive emotions

Emotions that are associated with favorable reactions and outcomes.

Gratitude

A positive emotion that acknowledges kindness or benefits received.

Positive subjective experiences

Personal feelings of happiness and fulfillment.

Subjective well-being

An individual's self-evaluation of their life satisfaction and emotional state.

Signature strengths

Individual traits that are particularly valued and foster engagement.

Virtues

Character strengths valued across cultures and believed to contribute to the flourishing of individuals.

Positive objective experiences

Outcomes that contribute to well-being and positive mental health.

Happiness

A state of well-being and contentment.

Categories of virtues

Wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence.

Posttraumatic growth

Positive psychological change experienced as a result of adversity.

Dysfunction

Impairment in the normal functioning of an individual.

Distress

Emotional suffering that can impair functioning.

Deviation from the social norm

Behavior that is considered abnormal or not typical within a society.

Cultural/societal norms

Shared standards and expectations that guide behavior in a society.

Stigma

A negative perception or mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance.

Racism

Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against individuals of a different race.

Sexism

Discrimination or prejudice based on a person's sex or gender.

Ageism

Prejudice or discrimination against individuals based on their age.

Discrimination

Unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A classification system for mental disorders.

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A global health information standard for mortality and morbidity statistics.

Eclectic approach

Combining various therapeutic techniques and principles.

Behavioral perspective

Focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned.

Maladaptive learned associations

Ineffective responses learned through reinforcement.

Psychodynamic perspective

Focuses on unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Humanistic perspective

Emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.

Cognitive perspective

Focuses on mental processes such as thinking and memory.

Evolutionary perspective

Examines human behavior through the lens of evolution.

Sociocultural perspective

Focuses on the impact of society and culture on behavior.

Biological perspective

Looks at physiological processes and genetics as causes of behavior.

Biopsychosocial model

A model that includes biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health.

Diathesis-stress model

Suggests that psychological disorders develop due to a predisposition combined with stress.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

A group of disorders that affect the brain's development.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A disorder characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

A range of disorders characterized by disruptions in thought processes and emotional responsiveness.

Delusions

False beliefs that are strongly held despite contradictory evidence.

Hallucinations

Sensory experiences that occur without an external source.

Disorganized thinking

Incoherent and disrupted thought processes.

Disorganized speech

Speech that is difficult to follow or nonsensical.

Disorganized motor behavior

Inappropriate or unpredictable physical movements.

Negative symptoms

Symptoms that reflect a decrease in emotional expression or motivation.

Positive symptoms

Symptoms that add to a person's experience, such as hallucinations.

Delusions of persecution

Beliefs that one is being targeted or conspired against.

Delusions of grandeur

Beliefs that one has exceptional abilities or powers.

Word salad

Incoherent mixture of words and phrases.

Catatonia

A state of unresponsiveness and lack of movement.

Flat affect

An absence or reduction of emotional expression.

Catatonic stupor

A lack of response to external stimuli.

Dopamine hypothesis

The theory that an excess of dopamine activity is related to schizophrenia.

Depressive disorders

A group of mood disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness.

Major Depressive Disorder

A severe form of depression impacting daily functioning.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression lasting for at least two years.

Bipolar disorders

Mood disorders characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania.

Cycling

Changing between depressive and manic episodes.

Mania

An elevated state of mood and energy.

Depression

A state of low mood and loss of interest.

Bipolar I Disorder

Characterized by at least one manic episode.

Bipolar II Disorder

Characterized by at least one major depressive episode and hypomanic episodes.

Anxiety disorders

Disorders characterized by excessive fear or anxiety.

Specific phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Acrophobia

Fear of heights.

Arachnophobia

Fear of spiders.

Agoraphobia

Fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult.

Panic disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks.

Panic attack

An episode of intense fear or discomfort.

Ataque de nervious

A culture-bound syndrome characterized by panic, anxiety, and emotional distress.

Social anxiety disorder

Intense fear of social situations.

Taijin kyofusho

A Japanese form of social anxiety characterized by fear of offending others.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Excessive anxiety and worry about various aspects of life.

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

Disorders characterized by obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions

Recurrent, intrusive thoughts or impulses.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

A disorder marked by obsessions and compulsions.

Hoarding disorder

Pattern of compulsively saving items to the point of clutter.

Dissociative disorders

Disorders characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory.

Dissociation

A disconnection between thoughts, memory, identity, or consciousness.

Dissociative amnesia

Inability to recall important personal information, usually related to trauma.

Dissociative identity disorder

Characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Trauma and stressor-related disorders

Disorders that occur following exposure to traumatic or stressful events.