Unit 5 (Stress, Positive Psych, Wellbeing)

includes: 5.1a, 5.1b, 5.2a, 5.2b

health psychology

a subfield of psychology that explores the impact of psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors on health and wellness

psychoneuroimmunology

branch of health psych; the study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect our immune system and resulting health

eustress

positive and motivating stress

distress

negative and debilitating stress

stress

the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events called stressors, that can be threatening (bad) or challenging (good)

catastrophes, daily hassles

the three types of stressors are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, significant life changes, and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

sympathetic n.s

part of the N.S that reacts to immediate threats by activating fight or flight

general adaptation syndrome

selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases (alarm, resistance, exhaustion)

alarm, resistance, exhaustion

the three phases of GAS

alarm reaction

when sympathetic N.S is suddenly activated and you’re ready to fight (GAS)

resistance

when temp, blood pressure, and respiration remain high; adrenaline keeps pumping and you’re fully engaged (GAS)

exhaustion

no relief from stress makes you vulnerable to illness, collapse, or even death (GAS)

tend and befriend response

under stress, people (especially women) nurture themselves and others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend)

type a

personality term for competitive, impatient, aggressive people

type b

personality term for easygoing, relaxed people

catharsis

the idea that “releasing” aggressive energy (through action or fantasy) relieves aggressive urges

problem focused coping

alleviating stress directly — by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor

emotion focused coping

alleviating stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to our stress reaction

personal control

our sense of controlling our environment rather than feeling helpless

learned helplessness

the hopelessness and passive resignation humans and other animals learn when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

external locus of control

the perception that outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate

internal locus of control

the perception that we control our own fate

self control

the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for longer-term rewards

depletion effect

when exercising willpower, the mental energy we need for self control is depleted

positive psych

scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

subjective wellbeing

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life; used along w/ measures of objective wellbeing to evaluate quality of life

feel-good do-good phenomenon

peoples tendency to be helpful when in a good mood

adaptation level phenomenon

our tendency to form judgements (sounds, light, income) relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience

EX: if we wake up to our utopia tomorrow, we’d be happy UNTIL we get used to it. we’d notice the ups and downs more severely based on our current perception.

relative deprivation

the perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves (comparison is the thief of joy!)

broaden and build theory

this theory explains that everyday positive emotions help broaden awareness, which helps people build skills and resilience that boost wellbeing

wisdom, courage, humanity

the FIRST 3 character strengths and virtues promoted in positive psych (not justice...etc)

justice, temperance, transcendence

the LAST 3 character strengths and virtues promoted in positive psychology (not wisdom...etc)

aerobic exercise

sustained exercise that increases heart n lung fitness; helps alleviate anxiety

seven

for every exercise hour, how many hours are added to your lifespan?

biofeedback

recording, amplifying, and feeding back info about subtle physiological responses in an effort to help people control them (e.g. weight)

mindfulness meditation

a reflective practice in which people attend to current experiences in a nonjudgmental and accepting manner

gratitude

appreciative emotion that can predict wellbeing

the faith factor

a factor in wellbeing: religiously active people tend to live longer than those who aren’t religously active