BehSci GR3 Study guide

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Stress

A psychological and physical response to perceived challenges or threats.

Psychological Disorders

Conditions characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A type of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Biopsychosocial Approach

A model that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health and illness.

Appraisal Theory

Suggests that the way we evaluate or appraise a situation affects our emotional response and stress levels.

Biopsychosocial Model

A framework for understanding psychological disorders that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

Learned Helplessness

A condition in which a person feels unable to control or change a situation, leading to stress and depression.

Aaron Beck

Developed cognitive therapy, focusing on changing negative thought patterns

Sigmund Freud

Introduced psychodynamic therapy, emphasizing unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Carl Rogers

Known for humanistic therapy, which emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization.

How does our appraisal of an event affect our stress reaction?

Understanding the role of perception in stress response.

What are the causes and consequences of anger?

Exploring the impact of anger on health and relationships.

How do psychological disorders predict violent behavior?

Psychological disorders do not inherently predict violent behavior; context and individual circumstances play significant roles.

Three main types of stressors

Catastrophes, Significant Life Changes, Daily Hassles.

What is the link between stress and health?

Chronic stress can lead to increased vulnerability to diseases such as coronary heart disease.

Faith factor in health

Faith can lead to healthier lifestyles and better coping mechanisms.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, differs from panic disorder, which involves sudden attacks of intense fear.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. Unlike specific phobias, panic disorder is not limited to a specific object or situation.

Specific Phobias

Intense fear of a specific object or situation. Specific phobias are focused fears, while generalized anxiety is more pervasive.

OCD

Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. OCD involves specific rituals, while anxiety disorders may not have compulsive elements.

PTSD

Anxiety and flashbacks following a traumatic event. PTSD is specifically linked to trauma, while other anxiety disorders may not have a trauma history.

Depressive Disorders

Characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest. Bipolar disorders include episodes of mania, which are not present in depressive disorders.

Bipolar Disorders

Involves mood swings from depressive lows to manic highs. Bipolar disorder includes both extremes, while depressive disorders focus solely on the low.

Catastrophic events

Sudden, unexpected events that cause significant stress (e.g., natural disasters).

Significant life changes

Major transitions that require adjustment (e.g., divorce, job loss).

Daily hassles

Routine challenges that can accumulate and lead to stress (e.g., traffic jams, work deadlines).

fight-or-flight response

Activates the sympathetic nervous system and releases cortisol and adrenaline.

Coping strategies

Problem-focused (addressing the stressor) or emotion-focused (managing emotional responses) ways to deal with and relieve stress.

Self-control

Crucial for managing stress and achieving long-term goals; however, it can be depleted through overuse, leading to poorer decision-making.

Social support

Vital for good health; it provides emotional comfort, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging.

Aerobic exercise

Has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being through the release of endorphins.

Relaxation techniques and meditation

Can lower stress levels, improve focus, and promote emotional health by fostering mindfulness and reducing anxiety.

Happiness

A state of well-being characterized by positive emotions and life satisfaction.

Why does happiness matter?

It is linked to better health, improved relationships, and greater productivity.

What do time and adaptation have to do with happiness?

Individuals often return to a baseline level of happiness after significant life changes (hedonic adaptation).

Predictors of happiness

Strong social connections, meaningful work, and engaging in activities that promote flow and fulfillment.

Medical model

Views psychological disorders as illnesses that can be diagnosed and treated, while the biopsychosocial approach considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

How are disorders classified?

Clinicians classify disorders using the DSM-5, but some psychologists criticize diagnostic labels for potentially stigmatizing individuals and oversimplifying complex behaviors.

Risk Factors and Suicide

Factors increasing the risk of suicide include mental health disorders, substance abuse, and significant life stressors.

Nonsuicidal self-injury

Often a coping mechanism for emotional distress, and understanding its prevalence is crucial for prevention.

Somatic symptom disorder

Involves experiencing physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical conditions, often linked to psychological factors.

How are anxiety disorders formed?

Learning, cognition, and biology contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders, with conditioning and cognitive distortions playing key roles.

Psychotherapy

Involves talking therapies aimed at addressing psychological issues, while biomedical therapies include medical interventions such as medication.

Behavior therapy

Focuses on modifying maladaptive behaviors through conditioning techniques, contrasting with psychodynamic and humanistic approaches that explore underlying thoughts and feelings.

Cognitive therapies

Aim to change negative thought patterns to improve emotional well-being, with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) combining cognitive and behavioral techniques.

CBT Techniques

Techniques in CBT include cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and skills training to enhance coping strategies.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Change

Emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, exercise, sleep) in improving mental health and preventing disorders. 

Drug therapies

Involve the use of medications to manage symptoms of psychological disorders, with double-blind studies being a standard method for evaluating their effectiveness.