BeSci Gr 3

Stress

Perception and response to challenging or threatening events.

Stressors

Events that trigger stress reactions in individuals.

Types of Stressors

Catastrophes, life changes, daily hassles.

Daily Hassles

Minor irritations that can accumulate and cause stress.

Social Stress

Stress arising from social interactions and inequalities.

Burnout

Chronic workplace stress leading to exhaustion.

Fight-or-Flight Response

Physiological reaction to perceived threats.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Three-phase response to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Tend-and-Befriend Response

Social support-seeking behavior, often seen in women.

Psychoneuroimmunology

Study of psychological effects on immune function.

Immune System Overreaction

Stress can cause allergic reactions or autoimmune diseases.

Immune System Underreaction

Stress may allow infections or cancer to progress.

Type A Personality

Reactive, anger-prone personality linked to heart disease.

Type B Personality

Relaxed, easygoing personality contrasting with Type A.

Chronic Stress

Persistent stress contributing to inflammation and health issues.

Anger Triggers

Threats or challenges that provoke feelings of anger.

Cultural Influence on Anger

Societal norms shape how anger is expressed.

Emotional Catharsis

Temporary relief from anger without reducing its intensity.

Controlled Assertion

Expressing feelings to resolve conflicts constructively.

Psychological Disorders

Clinically significant disturbances affecting cognition or behavior.

Medical Model

Assumes psychological disorders have physical causes.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Considers biological, psychological, and social factors in disorders.

Biopsychosocial perspective

Disordered behavior results from biological, psychological, and social factors.

Vulnerability-stress model

Individual traits and stressors affect psychological disorder likelihood.

DSM-5

Manual providing diagnostic labels for mental disorders.

Criticism of DSM

Pathologizes normal behaviors, casting too wide a net.

RDoC project

Classifies disorders by behaviors and brain activity dimensions.

Diagnostic labels

Create biases about labeled individuals' behaviors.

Suicide risk factors

Include social support, mental health, and isolation.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)

Self-harm that doesn't usually lead to suicide.

Forewarnings of suicide

Hints like giving away possessions or social withdrawal.

Mental disorders and violence

Seldom predict violent behavior; most are nonviolent.

Better violence predictors

Include substance use, past violence, and gun access.

Psychological disorder rates

Vary by time and location of surveys.

Immigrant paradox

Immigrants may have better mental health than natives.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Characterized by persistent, uncontrollable anxiety.

Panic disorder

Involves periodic episodes of intense dread.

Specific phobia

Irrational fear of specific objects or situations.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Characterized by unwanted thoughts and repetitive actions.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Mental health condition triggered by traumatic events.

Social support

Emotional and practical assistance from social networks.

Epigenetics research

Studies how environment affects gene expression.

Risk factors for suicide

Include age, gender, income, and marital status.

Isolation and unemployment

Heighten the risk of suicidal behavior.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Disorder with haunting memories and insomnia post-trauma.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Bodily symptoms without apparent physical cause.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Preoccupation with having a serious illness despite few symptoms.

Fear Conditioning

Learning to associate stimuli with fear responses.

Stimulus Generalization

Responding similarly to similar stimuli.

Fearful-Behavior Reinforcement

Reinforcing avoidance behaviors that reduce fear.

Observational Learning

Learning fears by observing others' reactions.

Genetic Predispositions

Inherited traits influencing emotional reactivity.

Neurotransmitter Production

Chemical messengers affecting mood and anxiety.

Major Depressive Disorder

Depression with five symptoms for two weeks.

Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorder with episodes of mania and depression.

Negative Beliefs

Pessimistic thoughts fueling depressive cycles.

Relentless Rumination

Continuous focus on negative thoughts and experiences.

Psychotherapy

Treatment through psychological techniques and therapist interaction.

Biomedical Therapy

Treatment using medications or physiological procedures.

Eclectic Approach

Combining different therapeutic techniques for treatment.

Behavior Therapy

Modifying problem behaviors using learning principles.

Exposure Therapies

Classical conditioning methods to reduce fear responses.

Systematic Desensitization

Gradual exposure to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety.

Aversive Conditioning

Associating unwanted behaviors with unpleasant stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

Behavior influenced by consequences of actions.

Behavior Modification Techniques

Reinforcing desired behaviors while discouraging undesired ones.

Token Economies

Behavior modification using rewards for desired behaviors.

Cognitive Therapy

Focuses on changing self-defeating thought patterns.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Combines cognitive and behavior therapy techniques.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Integrates cognitive tactics with mindfulness and social skills.

Therapeutic Lifestyle Change

Biomedical therapy influencing brain response through lifestyle.

Psychopharmacology

Study of drug effects on psychological disorders.

Antipsychotic Drugs

Medications used to treat schizophrenia symptoms.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Involuntary movements caused by antipsychotic medications.

Antianxiety Drugs

Medications that depress CNS to treat anxiety disorders.

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression and anxiety.

Quicker-acting Antidepressants

Includes ketamine and psilocybin for rapid relief.

Mood Stabilizers

Medications like lithium for bipolar disorder management.

Double-Blind Studies

Research method eliminating placebo and bias effects.

Problem-Focused Coping

Directly addressing stressors to reduce their impact.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Avoiding stressors and addressing emotional responses.

Learned Helplessness

Condition resulting from perceived lack of control.

Internal Locus of Control

Belief in personal control over life events.

External Locus of Control

Belief that external factors dictate life outcomes.

Stress Hormones

Chemicals released in response to perceived stress.

Blood Pressure

Pressure of circulating blood on vessel walls.

Immune Response

Body's defense mechanism against pathogens and stress.

Free Will

Belief linked to helpful behavior and performance.

Self-Control

Predicts health and success, can be strengthened.

Optimistic Outlook

Associated with better health and longevity.

Social Support

Improves health by reducing stress and enhancing immunity.

Aerobic Exercise

Boosts mood, cognitive function, and fights heart disease.

Relaxation

Lowers stress and improves immune functioning.

Meditation

Mindfulness practice that reduces anxiety and depression.

Faith Factor

Religious activity linked to longer life expectancy.

Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon

Happiness increases willingness to help others.

Positive Psychology

Studies human flourishing and promotes strengths and virtues.

Time and Happiness

Emotions balance out over time, affecting happiness.

Wealth and Happiness

Comfort and security predict happiness, not excess wealth.

Adaptation-Level Phenomenon

Happiness relative to personal experiences over time.