Stress and Psychological Concepts

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to stress, psychological theories, and concepts learned from the lecture notes.

Stress

Any circumstance that threatens or is perceived to threaten well-being.

Perception in Stress

The level of stress experienced can vary based on how a situation is interpreted.

Types of Stressors

Major life stressors, chronic stress, and daily hassles that contribute to stress.

Chronic Stress

Persistent, long-term stressors often related to environment or life conditions.

Daily Hassles

Small, frequent annoyances like traffic or waiting in line that can accumulate and predict stress.

Frustration

Occurs when a goal is blocked, often leading to stress and sometimes aggression.

Conflict

Occurs when a person must choose between incompatible goals.

Approach–Avoidance Conflict

A situation where a single goal has both positive and negative aspects.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Describes the body’s response to sustained stress, consisting of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion stages.

Fight-or-Flight Response

Immediate physiological reaction to threat, activating the sympathetic nervous system.

Allostatic Load

Cumulative 'wear and tear' on the body from repeated stress.

Appraisal Theory

Stress depends on cognitive interpretation, involving primary and secondary appraisal.

Positive Psychology

Focus on happiness, well-being, and positive emotions.

Coping Strategies

Methods used to manage stress, which can be adaptive or maladaptive.

Burnout

Emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion due to prolonged stress.

Social Support

Emotional and practical help from others that can reduce stress and improve health.

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort from inconsistent beliefs or behaviors that leads to an adjustment in beliefs or behaviors.

Obedience

A form of compliance where individuals follow direct commands from authority.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to attribute others’ behaviors to internal causes while attributing our own to situational factors.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in the ability to achieve specific goals, influenced by experiences and encouragement.

DSM-5-TR

Standard diagnostic manual used for categorizing and diagnosing mental disorders.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when other people are present.