Emotions, Stress, and Health

Emotion

a response of the whole organism, involving physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience resulting from ones interpretations (Eg. Happiness, fear, ect)

James-Lange Theory

the theory that our experience of emotion occurs when we become aware of our physiological responses to an emotion-arousing stimulus. (Ex. You feel fear because your heart beat is racing when seeing a bear)

Cannon-Bard Theory

the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers physiological responses and the subjective experience of emotion (Ex. Seeing a bear --> Heart races and fear is felt at the same time)

two-factor theory

The Schachter-Singer theory that to experience emotion one must be physically aroused and cognitively label the arousal (Ex. Your heart races and you interpret it as fear when seeing a bear)

polygraph

A device that measures physiological responses (like heart rate, breathing, and sweat) to detect emotion arousal

Facial feedback effect

The tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such as fear, anger, or happiness (Ex. smiling can make you happier)

Behavior feedback effect

The tendency of behavior to influence our own and others' thoughts, feelings, and actions (Ex. Walking with your shoulders back and head up makes you more confident)

Catharsis

The idea that releasing aggressive energy (through action or fantasy) relieves aggressive urges. (Ex. hitting a punching bag when frustrated)

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

People's tendency to be helpful when in a good mood (Ex. Good mood --> you feel like donating to charity)

Positive psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing, with goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive (Ex. Practicing mindfulness)

Subjective well being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life. (Ex. two people have the same income, one might feel happier because they have close relationships and gratitude)

Adaptation level phenomenon

Our tendency to form judgents relative to neutral level defined by our prior experience (Ex. You are thrilled about your new phone but after a while, it feels normal and you want a newer model)

Relative deprivation

The perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves to (Ex. You earn a good salary but feel unhappy when you find out your coworkers earn more)

Stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors that we appraise as threatening or challenging

Approach and avoidance motives

The drive to move forward (approach) or away from (avoid) a stimulus (Ex Studying hard to earn good grades --> rewarding outcomes (or) studying hard to avoid failing --> avoiding unpleasant outcomes)

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Selye's concept of the body's adaptive response to stress in three phases—alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Tend-and-befriend response

Under stress, people (especially women) often provide support to others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend).

Health psychology

A subfield of psychology that provides psychology's contribution to behavioral medicine.

psychoneuroimmunology

The study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect our immune system and resulting health.

coronary heart disease

The clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle; a leading cause of death in many developed countries.

Type A

Friedman and Rosenman's term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient ,verbally aggressive ,and anger-prone people.

Type B

Friedman and Rosenman's term for easygoing, relaxed people.

Coping

Alleviating stress using emotional ,cognitive, or behavioral methods.

Problem focussed coping

Attempting to alleviate stress directly—by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor.

(Eg. You fought with your friend → you will go directly to your friend to work things out)

Emotion focussed coping

Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to our stress reaction.

(Eg. Instead of making efforts to mend your friendship, you choose to listen to music or hang out with other friends who support you)

Personal control

Our sense of controlling our environment rather than feeling helpless.

(Eg. After failing the first exam, an individual takes action and puts in effort to do better on the next exam)

Learned helplessness

The hopelessness and passive resignation humans and other animals learn when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.

(Eg. A student who keeps failing the exams might stop studying for that course

External locus of control

The perception that outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate.

(Eg. If someone fails an exam- they blame the test saying that it was unfair and they could not have done anything to score better)

Internal locus of control

The perception that we control our own fate.(Eg.If someone fails an exam- they say that they will study differently to score better)

Self control

The ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards.

(Eg. Choosing to complete homework instead of watching TV)

Aerobic exercise

Sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness; also helps alleviate depression and anxiety.

Mindfullness meditation

A reflective practice in which people attend to current experiences in a nonjudgmental and accepting manner.