AP PSYCHOLOGY: Mental and Physical Health Vocab

Stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging. Example: Chronic, high-stakes academic pressure (e.g., AP exams), which can cause mental health issues like anxiety or burnout, and physical health problems like high blood pressure, tension headaches, or weakened immunity.

Stressors

Internal or external events, conditions, or stimuli that threaten an individual’s well-being and trigger physical or psychological stress responses. Example: Catastrophic events (war), major life changes (divorce), daily hassles (traffic), and chronic strains like poverty.

Eustress

Positive, motivating stress that enhances performance, fosters growth, and is manageable. Example: Training for a marathon, lifting heavy weights, or participating in a competitive sports match.

Distress

Negative, debilitating stress that causes significant emotional, psychological, or physical suffering and interferes with daily functioning. Example: Chronic stress from financial issues causing high blood pressure, or acute trauma leading to PTSD

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases—alarm, resistance, exhaustion. Example: Alarm (fight-or-flight), Resistance (coping), and Exhaustion (depletion).

Alarm

The immediate, involuntary “fight-or-flight” reaction where the sympathetic nervous system activates, mobilizing bodily resources (adrenaline/cortisol) to handle a stressor. Example: Realizing you have a big test in your class, heart starts pounding and you start to panic, your adrenal glands start releasing epinephrine and cortisol to prepare to either run (flight) or panic-study (flight).

Resistance

The second stage of Selye’s GAS, where the body attempts to adapt to prolonged stress. Example: By day four of studying for AP exams, the student feels "used to" the stress. They are sleeping poorly, studying late, and drinking excessive coffee, but they are still functioning, staying focused, and appearing outwardly "fine" to others. Their body has stabilized to manage the constant demand.

Exhaustion

The third and final stage of Selye’s GAS, occurring when prolonged stress depletes the body’s resources. Example: A student getting sick with a virus immediately after finishing final exams, or a caregiver developing chronic fatigue.

Tend-and-befriend response

Under stress, people (especially women) often provide support to others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend). Example: A mother, experiencing high work stress, returns home and becomes hyper-focused on baking cookies with her children or cleaning the house to gain a sense of control and safety.

Problem-focused coping

Attempting to alleviate stress directly—by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor. Example: Creating a study schedule for a difficult class, initiating a conversation to resolve conflict, or building a budget to manage financial stress.

Emotion-focused coping

Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to our stress reaction. Example: Meditation, social support, and reappraisal.

Positive psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive. Example: Gratitude journaling, where individuals record three positive events daily to boost happiness.

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. Example: A person who is already in a good mood (high SWB) is more likely to help others, fostering a cycle of positive reinforcement.

Signature strengths/virtues

A person’s most authentic, positive character traits—celebrated and frequently exercised—that, according to positive psychology, increase happiness, life satisfaction, and mental health. Example: Wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

Wisdom

The acquisition and use of knowledge to promote well-being. Example: (Cognitive strengths): Creativity, Curiosity, Open-mindedness, Love of Learning, Perspective.

Courage

A character strength that involves exercising will to accomplish goals in the face of internal or external resistance. Example: (Emotional strengths): Bravery, Persistence, Integrity, Vitality.

Humanity

Positive, innate personality traits that people own and frequently use, which boost mental health, well-being, and happiness. Example: (Interpersonal strengths): Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence.

Justice

Civic strengths supporting community life, including teamwork, fairness, and leadership. Example: (Civic strengths): Teamwork, Fairness, Leadership.

Temperance

A character strength that protects against excess, managing impulses, emotions, and desires through moderation and self-control. Example: (Strengths against excess): Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self-regulation.

Transcendence

Represents strengths that connect individuals to the larger universe, providing meaning and purpose. Example: (Strengths of meaning): Gratitude, Hope, Humor, Spirituality.

Posttraumatic growth

Diagnosis

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

International Classification of Mental Disorders

Eclectic approach

Maladaptive

Biopsychosocial model

Diathesis-stress model

Diathesis

Neurodevelopmental disorders

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Schizophrenic spectrum disorders

Acute conditions

Chronic conditions

Delusions

Delusions of persecution

Delusions of grandeur

Hallucinations

Word salad

Catatonia

Stupor

Flat effect

Dopamine hypothesis

Major depressive disorder

Persistent depressive disorder

Bipolar I disorder

Bipolar II disorder

Mania

Specific phobia

Agoraphobia

Panic disorder

Social anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder

Acrophobia

Arachnophobia

Panic attacks

Culture-bound anxiety disorder (ataque de nervious)

Culture-bound anxiety disorder (taijin kyofusho)

Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD)

Obsessions

Compulsions

Hoarding disorder

Dissociative amnesia

Dissociative fugue

Dissociative identity disorder (DID)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Anorexia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa

Personality disorders

Odd/eccentric personality cluster

Dramatic/emotional/erratic cluster

Anxious/fearful cluster

Psychotropic medication therapy

Deinstitutionalization

Decentralization of therapy

Nonmaleficence

Fidelity

Integrity

Free association

Dream interpretation

Cognitive restructuring

Fear hierarchies

Cognitive triad

Applied behavior analysis

Exposure therapies

Systematic desensitization

Aversion therapy

Token economies

Biofeedback

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy

Rational-emotive behavior therapy

Person-centered therapy

Active listening

Unconditional postive regard

Hypnosis

Antidepressants

Antianxiety drugs

Lithium