AP Psychology Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health

Stress

Stress increases susceptibility to disease and weakens the immune system.

Eustress

Positive, motivating stress that excites and energizes a person.

Distress

Negative, harmful stress that overwhelms coping abilities.

Drive-Reduction Theory

People are motivated to maintain homeostasis by reducing physiological needs.

Arousal Theory

People are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal.

Self-Determination Theory

Motivation comes from intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

Instinct Theory

Behavior is motivated by innate, fixed patterns of behavior.

Motivational Conflicts

Behavior is influenced by conflicts between goals or outcomes.

Approach-Approach Conflict

Choosing between two desirable outcomes.

Approach-Avoidance Conflict

One goal has both positive and negative aspects.

Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict

Choosing between two undesirable outcomes.

Sensation-Seeking Theory

People are motivated to seek novel and exciting experiences.

Homeostasis

The body’s tendency to maintain a stable internal state.

Hypertension

Chronically high blood pressure often linked to stress.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic childhood experiences linked to later physical and mental health problems.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Hans Selye’s three-stage model of stress response.

Alarm Reaction

Initial stage of GAS involving fight-or-flight response.

Resistance Stage

Second GAS stage where the body attempts to cope with stress.

Exhaustion Stage

Final GAS stage where resources are depleted and illness risk rises.

Tend-and-Befriend Response

Stress response involving seeking social support and caring for others.

Problem-Focused Coping

Managing stress by solving the source of the problem.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional reactions to stress instead of the stressor itself.

Positive Psychology

Study of factors that promote well-being, happiness, and resilience.

Wisdom (Character Strength)

Curiosity, creativity, and seeking knowledge.

Courage (Character Strength)

Bravery, persistence, and integrity.

Humanity (Character Strength)

Love, kindness, and helping others.

Justice (Character Strength)

Fairness, leadership, and citizenship.

Temperance (Character Strength)

Forgiveness, humility, and self-control.

Transcendence (Character Strength)

Gratitude, hope, spirituality, and purpose.

Post-Traumatic Growth

Positive psychological growth after experiencing hardship or trauma.

Mental Disorder

A condition involving dysfunction, distress, and deviation from cultural norms.

DSM-5-TR

Diagnostic manual for mental disorders used mainly in the United States.

ICD-11

International manual for diagnosing diseases and disorders worldwide.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Mental disorders result from biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diathesis-Stress Model

Mental disorders develop from genetic predisposition combined with stress.

Behavioral Perspective on Disorders

Mental disorders result from maladaptive learned behaviors.

Psychodynamic Perspective on Disorders

Mental disorders result from unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences.

Humanistic Perspective on Disorders

Mental disorders result from inability to fulfill potential or lack of support.

Cognitive Perspective on Disorders

Mental disorders result from maladaptive thoughts and beliefs.

Evolutionary Perspective on Disorders

Some behaviors reduce survival and contribute to disorders.

Sociocultural Perspective on Disorders

Mental disorders are influenced by social and cultural dynamics.

Biological Perspective on Disorders

Mental disorders are influenced by genetics and physiology.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Disorders affecting brain development and functioning beginning early in life.

ADHD

Neurodevelopmental disorder involving inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Executive Function

Cognitive skills involving planning, focus, problem-solving, and emotional control.

Inattention

Difficulty directing and maintaining attention.

Hyperactivity

Excessive movement, energy, or restlessness.

Impulsivity

Acting quickly without thinking about consequences.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Neurodevelopmental disorder affecting social functioning and repetitive behaviors.

Social Reciprocity

Ability to engage in back-and-forth social interaction.

Nonverbal Communication

Use and understanding of gestures, facial expressions, and vocal tone.

Restrictive/Repetitive Behaviors

Repetitive actions, routines, or fixated interests common in autism.

Stimming

Repetitive motor behaviors often used for sensory regulation.

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Severe disorders involving psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations.

Delusions

False beliefs maintained despite contradictory evidence.

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences such as hearing or seeing things not present.

Disorganized Speech

Jumbled or nonsensical speech patterns.

Disorganized Motor Behavior

Abnormal physical behaviors or movement patterns.

Negative Symptoms

Absence of normal behaviors such as emotional expression.

Positive Symptoms

Presence of abnormal behaviors such as hallucinations or delusions.

Psychosis

Loss of contact with reality involving hallucinations or delusions.

Dopamine Hypothesis

Schizophrenia may involve excessive dopamine activity in certain brain regions.

Depressive Disorders

Disorders involving persistent sadness and loss of interest.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Depressed mood lasting at least two weeks with impaired functioning.

Symptoms of MDD

Sad mood, loss of interest, fatigue, guilt, sleep problems, suicidal thoughts.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD/Dysthymia)

Long-term, less severe depression lasting at least two years.

Bipolar Disorders

Disorders involving alternating periods of depression and mania or hypomania.

Depression

Persistent sad or hopeless mood lasting at least two weeks.

Mania

Abnormally elevated mood with impulsive and risky behaviors lasting at least one week.

Hypomania

Less severe form of mania lasting at least four days.

Bipolar I Disorder

Characterized by at least one manic episode.

Bipolar II Disorder

Characterized by hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes.

Symptoms of Mania

Inflated self-esteem, less sleep, impulsivity, racing thoughts.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders involving excessive fear, worry, or anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive uncontrollable worry lasting at least six months.

Symptoms of GAD

Restlessness, fatigue, concentration problems, sleep disturbance.

Specific Phobia

Excessive fear of a specific object or situation.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape may be difficult.

Panic Disorder

Disorder involving unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

Panic Attack

Sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Disorders involving obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions

Recurring intrusive thoughts causing anxiety.

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors used to reduce anxiety from obsessions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Disorder involving obsessions and compulsions.

Hoarding Disorder

Difficulty discarding possessions regardless of value.

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders involving disconnection from identity, memory, or consciousness.

Depersonalization

Feeling detached from one’s body or self.

Derealization

Feeling detached from reality or the world.

Dissociative Amnesia

Memory loss caused by trauma or stress.

Localized Amnesia

Loss of memories from a specific time period.

Selective Amnesia

Loss of some memories from a certain event or period.

Generalized Amnesia

Loss of memories from a long period of life.

Continuous Amnesia

Inability to form new memories after trauma.

Systematized Amnesia

Loss of memories related to a certain category or topic.

Dissociative Fugue

Sudden travel or wandering with memory loss of identity.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Disorder involving multiple distinct identities or personality states.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

Disorders caused by traumatic experiences.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Disorder involving anxiety and intrusive memories after trauma.