Unit 5 - Mental and Physical Health

health psychology

a field of psychology that focuses on how psychological, cultural, and behavioral factors influence health, illness, and healthcare

psychoneuroimmunology

the study of the interaction between psychological processes, the nervous system, and the immune system

stress

the process by which we perceive and respond to stressors that are threatening/challenging

Approach and avoidance motives

Identified by Kurt Lewin, can either be approach-approach (least stressful), avoidance-avoidance, or approach-avoidance conflict

Glucocorticoid stress hormones

Cortisol

Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

The body’s response to stress

Phase 1 - alarm reaction

Phase 2 - resistance

Phase 3 - exhaustion

Tend-and-befriend response

Especially among women, may nurture themselves and others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend)

Coronary heart disease

Clogging of the vessels and hat nourish heart muscle; a leading cause of death in many developed countries

Type A vs Type B

Friedman and Rosenman’s term for competitive hard driving impatient verbally aggressive and anger-prone people Vs

Easygoing relaxed ppl

Learned helplessness

Feeling helpless because of no personal control, which can lead to more vulnerability to ill health

External locus control vs internal locus control

External leads to more stress than internals, who experience greater happiness and control in life

self-control

the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for long-term rewards

positive psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of promoting strengths and virtues for well-being, resilience, and positive emotions, helping everyone thrive

Pillar 1 - positive well-being; P2 - positive traits; P3 - positive groups, communities, and cultures

subjective well-being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

people’s tendency to be helpful when in a good mood b/c strengthens social relationships

adaptation-level phenomenon

the tendency to judge stimuli relative to past experiences, leading to a baseline of expectations that influences perceptions of happiness

relative deprivation

the perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves

broaden-and-build theory

proposes that positive emotions broaden our awareness, which over time helps us build novel and meaningful skills and resilience that improves well-being

character strengths and virtues

a classification system to identify positive traits; organized into categories of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence

resilience

the personal strength that helps people cope with stress and recover from adversity and trauma

aerobic exercise

sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; helps alleviate depression and anxiety

mindfulness meditation

a reflective practice, which allows for experiences in a nonjudgemental and accepting manner

ex. when you scan your body

psychological disorder

a mental health condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, and behavior, affecting daily functioning