Chapter 13 - Stress, Coping, and Health

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from AP Psychology Chapter 13 notes on Stress, Coping, and Health.

Biopsychosocial Model

An explanation of physical illness that emphasizes the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

Health Psychology

The field that studies how psychosocial factors relate to health promotion, illness causation, prevention, and treatment.

Stress

Any circumstance threatening or perceived to threaten one’s well-being, taxing coping abilities; has a cumulative nature and depends on interpretation.

Acute Stressors

Threatening events that have relatively short duration and a clear endpoint.

Chronic Stressors

Threatening events that have a relatively long duration and no readily apparent time limit.

Frustration

In any situation where the pursuit of a goal is thwarted.

Conflict

When two or more incompatible motivations or impulses compete for expression.

Approach-Approach Conflict

A choice must be made between two attractive goals.

Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict

A choice must be made between two unattractive goals.

Approach-Avoidance Conflict

A choice must be made about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive aspects.

Life Changes

Significant alterations in living circumstances that require readjustment.

Pressure

Involves expectations or demands that one behave in a certain way.

Positive Emotions (Stress)

Positive emotions are elicited during stress and can help with resilience and recovery.

Negative Emotions (Stress)

Stress can also elicit negative emotions that influence coping efforts.

Emotional Arousal

Arousal can improve performance on simple tasks temporarily, but may hinder complex task performance.

Fight-or-Flight Response

Physiological reaction where the autonomic nervous system mobilizes the organism to fight or flee.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Hans Selye’s model of the body's stress response with three stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Coping

Active efforts to master, reduce, or tolerate demands created by stress.

Learned Helplessness

Passive behavior produced by exposure to unavoidable aversive events.

Aggression

Behavior intended to hurt someone, verbally or physically.

Catharsis

The release of emotional tension.

Internet Addiction

Spending an inordinate amount of time on the Internet and inability to control online use.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions; most aren’t beneficial; small illusions can be helpful.

Constructive Coping

Relatively healthful efforts to deal with stress, such as confronting problems, evaluating options, and planning to reduce stress.

Attention and Memory under Stress

Stress can disrupt attention and memory.

Burnout

Physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced self-efficacy resulting from chronic work-related stress.

Stress and Personal Growth

Stress can promote growth by forcing skill development, reevaluating priorities, and gaining new insights.

Psychosomatic Diseases

Physical ailments that are influenced or caused by stress and psychological factors.

Type A Personality

Personality with three elements: strong competitive orientation, impatience/time urgency, and anger/hostility.

Type B Personality

Relatively relaxed, patient, easygoing, and amicable behavior.

Anger/Hostility and Heart Disease

Anger and hostility in Type A individuals are associated with higher risk of heart disease.

Immune Response

Body’s defensive reaction to infections; can be affected by stress.

Stress Ages Immune System

Stress can weaken and accelerate aging of the immune response.

Factors Moderating Impact of Stress

Variables that influence how stress affects an individual, such as social support, optimism, and conscientiousness.

Social Support

Types of aid provided by others that can buffer the effects of stress.

Optimism

General tendency to expect good outcomes.

Conscientiousness

Tendency to be self-disciplined and careful in actions.

Health-Impairing Behavior

Behaviors that increase health risks.

Smoking

Tobacco use linked to many health problems; smokers die roughly 13–14 years earlier than nonsmokers.

Bad Diets

Poor dietary patterns that raise risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other illnesses.

Lack of Exercise

Insufficient physical activity increases stress and risk for cardiovascular disease.

AIDS/HIV

HIV weakens the immune system, leading to AIDS over time.