Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health

Health Psychology

The study of how mental and behavioral factors influence physical well-being.

Stress

The body's response to any demand or challenge, which can be positive (eustress) or negative (distress).

Coping Mechanisms

Strategies individuals use to manage and adapt to stressful situations, including problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The three-stage response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

A theory suggesting that some people respond to stress by caring for themselves and others while seeking social support.

Problem-Focused Coping

A coping strategy that involves taking action to directly address the source of stress.

Emotion-Focused Coping

A coping strategy that focuses on managing emotional reactions to stress rather than changing the situation itself.

Positive Psychology

A field of psychology that emphasizes positive emotions, resilience, and factors contributing to individual and societal thriving.

Biopsychosocial Model

An integrated approach to understanding health and illness that considers biological, psychological, and social factors.

Posttraumatic Growth

The positive changes that some people experience after facing trauma or major stress.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

Disorders characterized by disruptions in thinking, perception, emotion, and behavior, including symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

An anxiety disorder defined by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Disorders that arise during childhood, affecting behavior, learning, communication, and social interaction.

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders involving disruptions in awareness, memory, identity, and perception, usually in response to trauma or extreme stress.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A treatment for severe depression involving controlled electrical currents to trigger seizures in the brain.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

Pharmacotherapy

The use of medications to treat mental health disorders.

Biofeedback

A technique helping individuals gain control over involuntary body functions to manage stress and anxiety.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A therapeutic approach that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to treat various mental disorders.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy focusing on mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques, developed for treating borderline personality disorder.

Social Support

Emotional, informational, or practical assistance provided by family, friends, and the community, which can buffer the negative effects of stress.

Chronic Stress

Prolonged exposure to stressors that can lead to negative health outcomes.