AP Psychology 2025 Unit 5 AP review

Health Psychology

A subfield of psychology that 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 that we appraise as threatening or challenging

Hypertension

A condition in which blood pressure remains consistently high over time

Stressors

Anything that brings on the reaction to stress

Eustress

Positive stress response that can be psychological, physical, or biochemical

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Body’s adaptive response to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion

Alarm Stage

Initial encounter with a stressor; fight-or-flight response activated

Resistance Stage

Prolonged state of arousal if stressor not removed

Exhaustion Stage

Energy depletion from maintaining resistance; vulnerability to illness

Fight-or-Flight Response

Automatic physiological reaction to threat

Tend-and-Befriend Response

Behavioral response to stress focused on nurturing and seeking social support

Problem-Focused Coping

Alleviating stress by addressing the stressor directly

Emotion-Focused Coping

Alleviating stress by ignoring the stressor and focusing on emotional needs

Positive Psychology

Scientific study of human flourishing and the promotion of strengths and virtues

Well-Being

Self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life

Resilience

Personal strength to cope with stress and recover from adversity

Gratitude

Appreciation felt when benefiting from others’ actions

Signature Strengths

Essential character strengths central to a person’s identity

Virtue

A core characteristic considered beneficial to psychological health

Wisdom

Creativity, curiosity, learning, and perspective

Courage

Bravery, honesty, perseverance, and zest

Humanity

Kindness, love, and social intelligence

Justice

Fairness, leadership, and teamwork

Temperance

Forgiveness, prudence, and self-regulation

Transcendence

Appreciation of beauty, hope, spirituality

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological changes after trauma or crisis

Psychological Disorder

Clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior

Dysfunctional

Behavior interferes with daily life

Distressful

Behavior causes pain or discomfort

Deviant

Behavior differs from cultural norms

Labeling Disorders

Using terms that can create stigma

DSM-5

Manual used by American Psychiatric Association to classify psychological disorders

ICD

System used by WHO to classify disorders

Eclectic Approach

Therapeutic approach using multiple techniques

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on learned associations and reinforcement

Psychodynamic Perspective

Focuses on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences

Humanistic Perspective

Focuses on self-fulfillment and human potential

Cognitive Perspective

Focuses on maladaptive thoughts and beliefs

Evolutionary Perspective

Focuses on survival adaptations

Sociocultural Perspective

Focuses on societal and cultural influences

Biological Perspective

Focuses on physiological or genetic causes

Biopsychosocial Model

Integrates biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors

Diathesis-Stress Model

Genetic predisposition + environmental stress = psychological disorder

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Disorders caused by brain abnormalities in early development

ADHD

Characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Marked by social deficits, communication issues, and repetitive behaviors

Schizophrenia

Characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, etc.

Acute Schizophrenia

Rapid onset, better chance of recovery

Chronic Schizophrenia

Develops slowly; symptoms persist

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences

Disorganized Thinking

Incoherent speech; word salad

Catatonia

Motor immobility or excessive movement

Flat Affect

Emotionless state

Dopamine Hypothesis

Theory linking schizophrenia to dopamine overactivity

Depressive Disorders

Disorders marked by prolonged sadness or irritability

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent low mood, lack of interest, fatigue, etc. for at least two weeks

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Long-term mild depression lasting two years or more

Bipolar Disorder

Mood swings between depression and mania

Mania

State of extreme energy, impulsivity, and euphoria

Bipolar I Disorder

Includes full manic episodes and depressive episodes

Bipolar II Disorder

Includes hypomanic episodes with major depression, no full manic episodes

Anxiety Disorders

Mental disorders marked by excessive fear or anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Chronic worry about many things; symptoms include fatigue, restlessness, tension

Panic Disorder

Recurrent panic attacks and fear of future attacks

Ataque de Nervios

Cultural panic reaction with intense emotional outbursts

Phobic Disorder

Irrational fear of specific object/situation

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of social situations

Taijin Kyofusho

Cultural anxiety of offending others (Japanese culture)

Agoraphobia

Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions)

Obsessions

Persistent intrusive thoughts (e.g., contamination)

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors to reduce anxiety (e.g., washing hands)

Hoarding Disorder

Difficulty discarding items, regardless of value

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders involving disruption of memory, identity, or consciousness

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Two or more distinct identities control behavior

Dissociative Amnesia

Memory loss due to trauma

Dissociative Fugue

Loss of identity and sudden travel

PTSD

Disorder from trauma causing nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety

Hypervigilance

Constantly scanning for threats

Flashback

Re-experiencing trauma as if it’s happening now

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Disorders affecting eating behavior and nutrition

Anorexia Nervosa

Starvation despite being underweight

Bulimia Nervosa

Bingeing followed by purging

Personality Disorders

Enduring maladaptive behavior patterns; divided into 3 clusters

Cluster A

Odd, eccentric behavior

Cluster B

Dramatic, emotional, erratic behavior

Cluster C

Anxious, fearful behavior

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Distrust, suspicion, fear of betrayal

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Detachment from social relationships

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Eccentric behavior, magical thinking

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Manipulation, lack of empathy or remorse

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in mood and relationships

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Attention-seeking, dramatic behavior

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiosity, need for admiration

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Fear of rejection, social inhibition

Dependent Personality Disorder

Clingy behavior, fear of separation

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Perfectionism, control, preoccupation with order

Meta-Analysis

Combining data from multiple studies to find trends

Psychotherapy

Treatment involving therapist-client interactions