Untitled Flashcards Set

Health Psychology

The study of how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness.

Psychoneuroimmunology

The field that examines the interactions between psychological processes, the nervous system, and the immune system.

Stress

A psychological and physical response to perceived challenges or threats.

Approach-avoidance motives

Motivations that involve both positive and negative aspects in decision-making.

Kurt Lewin

A psychologist known for his work in social psychology and organizational development.

Hans Selye

A physician known for his research on stress and the concept of General Adaptation Syndrome.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A three-stage response to stress described by Hans Selye: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Tend-and-befriend response

A behavioral response to stress, where individuals seek social support and nurture others.

Coronary heart disease

A condition characterized by the narrowing of coronary arteries, often linked to stress and lifestyle factors.

Type A personality

A personality type characterized by competitiveness, impatience, and aggression.

Type B personality

A personality type characterized by a relaxed, non-competitive approach to life.

Catharsis

The process of releasing and thereby providing relief from strong or repressed emotions.

Coping

The strategies used to manage stress and difficult emotions.

Problem-focused coping

Coping strategy aimed at addressing the actual source of stress.

Emotion-focused coping

Coping strategy aimed at managing emotional response to stress.

Personal control

The belief in one's ability to influence events and outcomes in their life.

Learned helplessness

The feeling of loss of control over a situation after repeated failures.

External locus of control

The belief that outcomes are determined by external factors.

Internal locus of control

The belief that one can control their own outcomes.

Self-control

The ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Martin Seligman

A psychologist known as the father of Positive Psychology focused on well-being.

Positive Psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing and well-being.

Subjective well-being

Individuals' self-assessment of their overall happiness and life satisfaction.

Feel-good, do-good phenomenon

The tendency to be more helpful when in a good mood.

Adaptation-level phenomenon

The principle that people evaluate experiences relative to a neutral level based on prior experiences.

Relative deprivation

The perception that one is worse off compared to those with whom one compares oneself.

Broaden-and-build theory

The theory suggesting that positive emotions broaden thoughts and actions, building resources.

Character strengths and Virtues

A classification of positive traits and strengths in human beings.

Resilience

The ability to recover quickly from difficulties.

Aerobic Exercise

Physical exercise that involves sustained and rhythmic activity to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Mindfulness Meditation

A practice of focused attention and awareness in the present moment.

Gratitude

A positive emotional response of appreciation for what one has.

Psychological disorder

A syndrome marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior.

Medical model

A framework that views psychological disorders as diseases with a biological cause.

Diathesis-stress model

A psychological theory explaining behavior as a predispositional vulnerability together with stress from life experiences.

DSM-5

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

Anxiety disorders

Mental health disorders characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear.

Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of situations where escape might be difficult.

Panic disorder

An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks.

Specific phobia

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

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).

Hoarding disorder

A psychological disorder characterized by persistent difficulty in parting with possessions.

Posttraumatic stress disorder

A disorder characterized by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Trauma and stressor related disorders

Disorders that involve the prolonged response to trauma and stress.

Depressive disorders

A group of disorders characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Bipolar disorders

Mental disorders marked by extreme mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes.

Mania

An excessively elevated mood state, often associated with bipolar disorder.

Rumination

The compulsive focus on the symptoms of one's distress.

Bipolar I vs Bipolar II

Bipolar I involves at least one manic episode, while Bipolar II involves at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode.

Delusion

A false belief that is strongly held despite evidence or reasoning to the contrary.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions.

Dissociative disorder

A condition where there is a break in the connection of thoughts, memory, and identity.

Dissociative amnesia

A loss of memory without an underlying medical cause.

Personality disorder

A type of mental disorder characterized by unhealthy patterns of thinking, functioning and behaving.

Antisocial personality disorder

A disorder characterized by a disregard for other people's rights.

Bulimia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging.

Anorexia nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image.

Attention deficit disorder

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity.

Dorothea Dix

A social reformer known for her work in advocating for the mentally ill.

Deinstitutionalization

The process of reducing the population of mental health institutions.

Psychotherapy

The treatment of mental disorder through psychological means.

Biomedical therapy

Treatment of psychological disorders through medical means, such as medication.

Eclectic approach

A method that combines various therapeutic techniques and theories.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach focusing on uncovering unconscious motivations.

Resistance

In therapy, a patient's reluctance to process certain thoughts or feelings.

Transference

The redirection of feelings and desires, often from childhood, toward the therapist.

Psychodynamic therapy

A therapeutic approach that focuses on the psychological forces underlying human behavior.

Insight therapies

Therapies aimed at increasing awareness of self and the environment.

Person-centered therapy

A nondirective approach to talk therapy emphasizing personal growth.

Active listening

A communication technique that involves fully concentrating, understanding, and responding.

Behavior therapy

A type of therapy that focuses on changing unhealthy behaviors.

Counterconditioning

A behavioral therapy procedure that conditions new responses to stimuli that trigger unwanted behaviors.

Exposure therapies

Therapies that aim to reduce fear or anxiety by exposing patients to the feared object or context.

Systematic desensitization

A behavioral technique used to reduce anxiety responses through gradual exposure.

Virtual reality exposure therapy

A therapeutic simulation that uses virtual reality technology to expose patients to anxiety-provoking stimuli.

Aversive conditioning

A behavior modification technique that pairs an undesirable behavior with an unpleasant stimulus.

Token economy

A behavioral modification system that rewards desired behaviors with tokens.

Cognitive therapy

A type of therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns.

Albert Ellis

The psychologist known for developing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

Rational-emotive behavior Therapy

A type of cognitive therapy that helps clients identify and alter irrational beliefs.

Aaron Beck

A psychiatrist known for his development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A therapeutic approach that aims to improve mental health by changing cognitive distortions and behaviors.

Group Therapy

A form of psychotherapy involving multiple participants.

Family Therapy

A type of group therapy that involves family members.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions.

meta-analysis

A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to identify overall trends and effects.

evidence-based practice

Evidence-based practice is an approach to decision-making in healthcare that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.

therapeutic alliance

The therapeutic alliance is the collaborative relationship between a therapist and a client, crucial for effective therapy outcomes.

psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology is the study of how drugs affect the mind and behavior.

antipsychotic drugs

Antipsychotic drugs are medications used to manage psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions, often prescribed for conditions like schizophrenia.

antianxiety drugs

Antianxiety drugs are medications that help relieve anxiety symptoms, commonly including benzodiazepines.

antidepressant drug

Antidepressant drugs are medications used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and some other conditions.

electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment for severe depression that involves electrically inducing seizures.

transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.

psychosurgery

Psychosurgery is a surgical intervention aimed at alleviating severe mental disorders by disrupting specific brain regions.

lobotomy

A lobotomy is a form of psychosurgery that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex, historically used to treat severe psychiatric conditions.

hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, often used therapeutically to address various psychological issues.

Ernest Hilgard

Ernest Hilgard was a prominent psychologist known for his research on hypnosis and the concept of dissociation.

dissociation

Dissociation is a psychological phenomenon where a person disconnects from thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity.