Unit 5 Psychology

Health Psychology

Relationship between physical health, wellness, behavior, and mental processes

Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure due to prolonged stress

Headaches

Stress-induced tension headaches or migraines

Immune Suppression

Reduced immune function leading to illness

Eustress

Positive motivating stress (ex: preparing for presentations)

Distress

Negative, debilitating stress (chronic work that leads to burnout)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Early life stressors with long-term effects

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The process of experiencing stress, defined by 3 parts (Alarm Reaction, Resistance Phase, Exhaustion Phase)

Alarm Reaction

GAS, Initial response to stress (ex: adrenaline)

Resistance Phase

GAS, Coping with stressor through a fight-flight-freeze response

Exhaustion Phase

GAS, Depletion of resources and increased susceptibility to illness

Tend-and-Befriend

Reacting to stress by tending to personal needs and seeking social support. More often practiced by women.

Problem-Focused Coping

Viewing stress as a problem and working towards a solution

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional reactions to stress as a coping strategy

Positive Psychology

Factors that contribute to a fulfilling and healthy life

Wisdom

Cognitive strengths like creativity, curiosity and judgement

Courage

Emotional strengths like bravery, perseverance, and honesty

Humanity

Interpersonal strengths like love, kindness, and social intelligence

Justice

Civic strengths like fairness, leadership, and teamwork

Temperance

Strengths that protect against excess, like forgiveness, humility, and self-regulation

Transcendence

Strengths that connect to the large universe, like gratitude, hope, and spirituality

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive subjective experience that may result after the experience of trauma or stress. Aspects include improved relationships, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual chance, and appreciation of life.

Level of Dysfunction

Degree to which behavior interferes with daily life/functioning

Perception of Distress

Individual’s experience of emotional of psychological pain

Deviation from Social Norm

Behavior that deviates significantly from societal expectations

Positive Consequences of Diagnosing

Access to appropriate treatment and support

Negative Consequences of Diagnosing

Potential for stigma and discrimination

Depression in East Asia

More likely expressed as physical symptoms than sadness

Ataque de nervios (Latino Cultures)

Stress responses (crying, trembling, shouting) that don’t fit neatly into any single DSM diagnosis

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)

Developed by the American Psychiatric Association to classify mental disorders

Eclectic Approach

Combine multiple psychological perspectives to diagnose/treat

Cognitive Perspective

Maladaptive though and beliefs. Helps individuals identify and change harmful thought patterns

Humanistic Perspective

Focus on social support and fulfilling one’s potential. Aims to provide support and help individuals achieve self-actualization

Behavioral Perspective

Focus on learned associations as causes of mental disorders. Helps in developing behavioral interventions for treatment.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences. Uncover and address underlying issues.

Biological perspective

Psychological and genetic causes of mental disorders. Includes medication and other medical interventions

Biopsychosocial model

Multiple factors to understand psychological problems. Need for multifactorial approaches to mental health.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Early onset and behaviors that don’t align with typical age or maturity ranges (ADHD, ASD)

Neurodevelopmental Causes

Environment: Prenatal exposure to toxins, malnutrition

Physiological: Brain structure abnormalities, neurotransmitter imbalances

Genetic: Family history

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Range of symptoms affecting perception and behavior (ex: schizophrenia)

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking/speech, disorganized motor behavior

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Flat affect, lack of movement