Psych Test CH. 14, CH. 15, CH. 16

alarm reaction

first stage of the general adaptation syndrome; characterized as the body's immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation or some other emergency; analogous to the fight-or-flight response

asthma

psychophysiological disorder in which the airways of the respiratory system become obstructed, leading to great difficulty expelling air from the lungs

biofeedback

stress-reduction technique using electronic equipment to measure a person's involuntary (neuromuscular and autonomic) activity and provide feedback to help the person gain a level of voluntary control over these processes

cardiovascular disorders

disorders that involve the heart and blood circulation system

coping

mental or behavioral efforts used to manage problems relating to stress, including its cause and the unpleasant feelings and emotions it produces

cortisol

stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when encountering a stressor; helps to provide a boost of energy, thereby preparing the individual to take action

daily hassles

minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives and are capable of producing stress

distress

bad form of stress; usually high in intensity; often leads to exhaustion, fatigue, feeling burned out; associated with erosions in performance and health

eustress

good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal health and performance

fight-or-flight response

set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system

flow

state involving intense engagement in an activity; usually is experienced when participating in creative, work, and leisure endeavors

general adaptation syndrome

Hans Selye's three-stage model of the body's physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion

happiness

enduring state of mind consisting of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions; the sense that one's life has meaning and value

health psychology

subfield of psychology devoted to studying psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill

heart disease

several types of adverse heart conditions, including those that involve the heart's arteries or valves or those involving the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs; can include heart attack and stroke

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

set of structures found in both the limbic system (hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary gland and adrenal glands) that regulate many of the body's physiological reactions to stress through the release of hormones

immune system

various structures, cells, and mechanisms that protect the body from foreign substances that can damage the body's tissues and organs

immunosuppression

decreased effectiveness of the immune system

job burnout

general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one's job; consists of three dimensions: exhaustion, depersonalization, and sense of diminished personal accomplishment

job strain

work situation involving the combination of excessive job demands and workload with little decision making latitude or job control

lymphocytes

white blood cells that circulate in the body's fluids and are especially important in the body's immune response

negative affectivity

tendency to experience distressed emotional states involving anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness

optimism

tendency toward a positive outlook and positive expectations

perceived control

peoples' beliefs concerning their capacity to influence and shape outcomes in their lives

positive affect

state or a trait that involves pleasurable engagement with the environment, the dimensions of which include happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement

positive psychology

scientific area of study seeking to identify and promote those qualities that lead to happy, fulfilled, and contented lives

primary appraisal

judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might entail

psychoneuroimmunology

field that studies how psychological factors (such as stress) influence the immune system and immune functioning

psychophysiological disorders

physical disorders or diseases in which symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors

relaxation response technique

stress reduction technique combining elements of relaxation and meditation

secondary appraisal

judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

popular scale designed to measure stress; consists of 43 potentially stressful events, each of which has a numerical value quantifying how much readjustment is associated with the event

social support

soothing and often beneficial support of others; can take different forms, such as advice, guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance

stage of exhaustion

third stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body's ability to resist stress becomes depleted; illness, disease, and even death may occur

stage of resistance

second stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body adapts to a stressor for a period of time

stress

process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one's well-being

stressors

environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process

Type A

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by individuals who tend to be extremely competitive, impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others

Type B

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by a person who is relaxed and laid back

agoraphobia

anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations in which it might be difficult to escape if one experiences symptoms of a panic attack

antisocial personality disorder

characterized by a lack of regard for others' rights, impulsivity, deceitfulness, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse over misdeeds

anxiety disorder

characterized by excessive and persistent fear and anxiety, and by related disturbances in behavior

attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

childhood disorder characterized by inattentiveness and/or hyperactive, impulsive behavior

atypical

describes behaviors or feelings that deviate from the norm

autism spectrum disorder

childhood disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and repetitive patterns of behavior or interests

bipolar and related disorders

group of mood disorders in which mania is the defining feature

bipolar disorder

mood disorder characterized by mood states that vacillate between depression and mania

body dysmorphic disorder

involves excessive preoccupation with an imagined defect in physical appearance

borderline personality disorder

instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood, as well as impulsivity; key features include intolerance of being alone and fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, unpredictable behavior and moods, and intense and inappropriate anger

catatonic behavior

decreased reactivity to the environment; includes posturing and catatonic stupor

comorbidity

co-occurrence of two disorders in the same individual

delusion

belief that is contrary to reality and is firmly held, despite contradictory evidence

depersonalization/derealization disorder

dissociative disorder in which people feel detached from the self (depersonalization), and the world feels artificial and unreal (derealization)

depressive disorder

one of a group of mood disorders in which depression is the defining feature

diagnosis

determination of which disorder a set of symptoms represents

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Fifth Edition (DSM-5),authoritative index of mental disorders and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA)

diathesis-stress model

suggests that people with a predisposition for a disorder (a diathesis) are more likely to develop the disorder when faced with stress; model of psychopathology

disorganized thinking

disjointed and incoherent thought processes, usually detected by what a person says

disorganized/abnormal motor behavior

highly unusual behaviors and movements (such as child-like behaviors), repeated and purposeless movements, and displaying odd facial expressions and gestures

dissociative amnesia

dissociative disorder characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually following an extremely stressful or traumatic experience

dissociative disorders

group of DSM-5 disorders in which the primary feature is that a person becomes dissociated, or split off, from their core sense of self, resulting in disturbances in identity and memory

dissociative fugue

symptom of dissociative amnesia in which a person suddenly wanders away from one's home and experiences confusion about their identity

dissociative identity disorder

dissociative disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) in which a person exhibits two or more distinct, well-defined personalities or identities and experiences memory gaps for the time during which another identity emerged

dopamine hypothesis

theory of schizophrenia that proposes that an overabundance of dopamine or dopamine receptors is responsible for the onset and maintenance of schizophrenia

etiology

cause or causes of a psychological disorder

flashback

psychological state lasting from a few seconds to several days, during which one relives a traumatic event and behaves as though the event were occurring at that moment

flight of ideas

symptom of mania that involves an abruptly switching in conversation from one topic to another

generalized anxiety disorder

characterized by a continuous state of excessive, uncontrollable, and pointless worry and apprehension

grandiose delusion

characterized by beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely important

hallucination

perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external stimulation, such as the auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) common to schizophrenia

harmful dysfunction

model of psychological disorders resulting from the inability of an internal mechanism to perform its natural function

hoarding disorder

characterized by persistent difficulty in parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value or usefulness

hopelessness theory

cognitive theory of depression proposing that a style of thinking that perceives negative life events as having stable and global causes leads to a sense of hopelessness and then to depression

International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

authoritative index of mental and physical diseases, including infectious diseases, and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the World Health Organization (WHO)

locus coeruleus

area of the brainstem that contains norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that triggers the body's fight-or-flight response; has been implicated in panic disorder

major depressive disorder

commonly referred to as "depression" or "major depression," characterized by sadness or loss of pleasure in usual activities, as well other symptoms

mania

state of extreme elation and agitation

manic episode

period in which an individual experiences mania, characterized by extremely cheerful and euphoric mood, excessive talkativeness, irritability, increased activity levels, and other symptoms

mood disorder

one of a group of disorders characterized by severe disturbances in mood and emotions; the categories of mood disorders listed in the DSM-5 are bipolar and related disorders and depressive disorders

negative symptom

characterized by decreases and absences in certain normal behaviors, emotions, or drives, such as an expressionless face, lack of motivation to engage in activities, reduced speech, lack of social engagement, and inability to experience pleasure

neurodevelopmental disorder

one of the disorders that are first diagnosed in childhood and involve developmental problems in academic, intellectual, social functioning

obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

group of overlapping disorders listed in the DSM-5 that involves intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors

obsessive-compulsive disorder

characterized by the tendency to experience intrusive and unwanted thoughts and urges (obsession) and/or the need to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) in response to the unwanted thoughts and urges

orbitofrontal cortex

area of the frontal lobe involved in learning and decision-making

panic attack

period of extreme fear or discomfort that develops abruptly; symptoms of panic attacks are both physiological and psychological

panic disorder

anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected panic attacks, along with at least one month of worry about panic attacks or self-defeating behavior related to the attacks

paranoid delusion

characterized by beliefs that others are out to harm them

peripartum onset

subtype of depression that applies to women who experience an episode of major depression either during pregnancy or in the four weeks following childbirth

persistent depressive disorder

depressive disorder characterized by a chronically sad and melancholy mood

personality disorder

group of DSM-5 disorders characterized by an inflexible and pervasive personality style that differs markedly from the expectations of one's culture and causes distress and impairment; people with these disorders have a personality style that frequently brings them into conflict with others and disrupts their ability to develop and maintain social relationships

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

experiencing a profoundly traumatic event leads to a constellation of symptoms that include intrusive and distressing memories of the event, avoidance of stimuli connected to the event, negative emotional states, feelings of detachment from others, irritability, proneness toward outbursts, hypervigilance, and a tendency to startle easily; these symptoms must occur for at least one month

prodromal symptom

in schizophrenia, one of the early minor symptoms of psychosis

psychological disorder

condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

psychopathology

study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms, causes, and treatment; manifestation of a psychological disorder

rumination

in depression, tendency to repetitively and passively dwell on one's depressed symptoms, their meanings, and their consequences

safety behavior

mental and behavior acts designed to reduce anxiety in social situations by reducing the chance of negative social outcomes; common in social anxiety disorder

schizophrenia

severe disorder characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior with symptoms that include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, and negative symptoms

seasonal pattern

subtype of depression in which a person experiences the symptoms of major depressive disorder only during a particular time of year

social anxiety disorder

characterized by extreme and persistent fear or anxiety and avoidance of social situations in which one could potentially be evaluated negatively by others