AP Psych Unit 9: Health Psychology

Positive Psychology

The study and promotion of well-being, happiness, and the positive aspects of human experience.

Feel Good, Do Good Phenomenon

The phenomenon where happy people are more likely to engage in helpful, kind behavior.

Hedonic Adaptation

The process by which humans quickly adapt to situations, returning to their baseline happiness after changes.

Relative Deprivation

The perception of being worse off in comparison to others.

Health Psychology

Explores the impact of psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors on health and wellness.

Stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events.

Distress

A negative stress response that can have an adverse effect on physical and mental health.

Eustress

A type of positive stress that occurs when you perceive a situation as challenging but not overwhelming.

Traumatic Stressor

Occurs after experiencing or witnessing dangerous events, causing significant disruption and distress.

Daily Hassles

Small, everyday irritations or minor frustrations that can accumulate to lead to significant stress.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A model proposed by Hans Selye describing the body's response to stress in three stages: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

Alarm Stage

Immediate reaction and appraisal of situation during the stress response.

Resistance Stage

Stage where a person copes with a stressful event by expending all energy.

Exhaustion Stage

Stage where energy is depleted and the body shuts down, making an individual vulnerable to illness.

Mindfulness

Focusing awareness on the present moment, observing thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Chronic Stress

Long-term stress that can lead to serious health problems, such as headaches and heart disease.

Tend and Befriend

A response to stress where individuals tend to their young and seek support from others.

Problem Focused Coping

Efforts aimed at solving the underlying causes of stress.

Emotion Focused Coping

Efforts to reduce the impact of emotional stressors.