General Psychology: Chapter 10

health psychology

The study of interrelationships between psychology and physical health

stress

describes pressures or demands placed upon an organism to adjust or adapt to its environment.

eustress

healthy stress, helps to remain active, alert and energized

distress

unpleasant state of physical or mental pain and suffering

stressors

sources of stress

chronic stress

Continuing or lingering stress.

hassles

common annoyances of everyday life

frustration

A negative emotional state experienced when one’s efforts to pursue one’s goals are blocked

conflict

an internal state of tension resulting from the presence of two or more competing goals or response tendencies that demand resolution

approach - approach conflict

a psychological dilemma where a person must choose between two equally desirable and positive alternatives

avoidance - avoidance conflict

a situation where a person must choose between two equally undesirable or negative options

approach - avoidance conflict

a psychological phenomenon where an individual experiences an internal conflict over a single goal that has both positive and negative aspects

Multiple Approach–Avoidance Conflict

a psychological term for a complex decision-making situation where an individual must choose between two or more options, each of which has both positive (approach) and negative (avoidance) aspect

traumatic stressors

events that are emotionally overwhelming, terrifying, or physically harmful, and which often lead to a person's ability to cope being overwhelmed

post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

psychological disorder trauma survivors may develop

type A behavior pattern (TABP)

behavior pattern characterized by impatience, competitive, aggressiveness, and time urgency

acculturative stress

refers to the pressues faced by immigrants in adapting to the culture and linguistic demands of the host country and affects psychological health and adjustment

hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA axis)

body’s stress response involved coordinated actions by an integrated system of endocrine glands

corricotrophin releasing hormone

released by the hypothalamus and induces the pituitary to release adrenocorticophic hormone

adrenocorticophic hormone

activates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroids

corticosteroids

increases the body’s resistance to stress by increasing the availability of stored nutrients to meet the increased energy demands of coping with stressul events

immune system

body’s primary system of defense against inectious diseases and worn out or diseased cells

lymphocytes

specialized white blood cells that detect the presence of antigens

antigens

activate the immune system to produce antibodies

antibodies

specialized proteins that serve to mark antigens for destruction by speacialized lymphocytes

allostasis

regulation of body’s response to stress

allostatic low

repeated exposure to chronic stress causing dysregulation

general adaptation syndrome

hans selye recognized the body responds in a similar manner to various stressors called the response pattern that consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

alarm stage

first stage and involved the mobilization of the body’s resources to cope with an immediate stressor. fight or flight is a biological change that prepare the body to desl with a threat by either fighting or fleeing

resistance stage

second stage and is characterized by the body’s attempt to adjust or adapt to persistent stress

exhaustion stage

final stage characterized by the depletion of bodily resources and a lowered resistance to stress related disorders, disease, or illnesses

vaccination

injecting a weakened or partial form of an infection agent that can induce production of antibodies but does not produce a full-blown infection

psychological moderator

may lessen the impact of stress, may include support, self-efficacy, perceptions of control and predictability, psychological hardiness, and optimism

chronic stress can

weaken the immune system making us more vulnerable to various diseases including heart disease

lymphocytes are also known as

white blood cells

social support

major factor in determining how well people cope with stress, and how well the body’s immune system fends off infections

self efficacy

confidence we have in our ability to succeed in tasks we set out to accomplish, acts as a buffer to stress

psychological hardiness

cluster of personality traits (committment, openness to challenge, internal locus of control) that may buffer the effects of stress

cornoary heart disease

most common form of heart disease caused by blockages in coronary arteries

atherosclerosis

narrowing of atery walls resulting from a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque

heart attack

potentially life-threatening event involving the death of heart tissue due to a lack of blood flow to the heart

cancer

disease in which body cells exhibit uncontrolled death

STD’s

pose serious health threats

maligant tumors

uncontrolled growths of body cells that invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body

basil cell carcinoma

the most common type of skin cancer but the least dangerous if detected early

melanoma

the most deadly form of skin cancer