1.3 Health Psychology (Mental & Physical Health)

AP Psychology

health psychology

is a subfield that studies how psychological, biological, and social factors influence physical health and illness

stress

is the process where we perceive and respond to certain events that we feel are threatening or challenging

“stressors”

stressors

are external or internal events that trigger a stress response

cognitive appraisal

is how we interpret the situation determines our stress response

stress response

is the psychological and physiological reactions to perceived stress

daily hassles

is a stressor that are everyday annoyances that build

traumatic events

is a stressor that are sudden or intense experiences that overwhelm your ability to cope

-impact varies by person

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

is a stressor that is a harmful childhood event that affects long-term health and development

biological perspectives on stress

is a physiological response driven by the nervous system and hormones (like cortisol)

psychodynamic perspectives on stress

comes from unconscious conflicts and unresolved emotional tension

evolutionary perspectives on stress

is a byproduct of evolutionary adaptation

sociocultural perspectives on stress

arises from pressure to meet societal barriers/cultural expectations and norms

humanistic perspectives on stress

arises when we encounter barriers to personal growth or when we can’t reach our full potential

cognitive perspectives on stress

depends on how we think

-negative or irrational thoughts can amplify it

behavioral perspectives on stress

happens when our actions don’t lead to expected rewards or outcomes

distress

-feels unpleasant and overthinking

-you didn’t choose it - it feels out of your control (external locus of control)

-often comes from situations in which both options are bad (avoidance - avoidance conflict)

-can lead to learned helplessness - when you feel stuck and stop trying

-unhealthy if it becomes chronic

eustress

-feels challenging, but motivating

-you chose it or welcomed the challenge (internal locus of control)

-often comes from situations where something is at stake, even if it’s stressful (approach - avoidance conflict)

-can lead to growth, confidence , and motivation

-can help you build resilience and thrive

hedonic adaptation

is the tendency to return to a stable level of happiness after positive or negative life events

-like an emotional reset

hedonic adaptation example

getting a new phone → exciting until the ‘new’ wears off, failing a text → feels awful at first, but you eventually adjust

negative bids

is the psychological tendency to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones

-evolved to early human survive threats, but in modern life it can exaggerate our perception of stress

negative bids example

you might overlook 10 compliments and obsess over 1 piece of criticism

how do our bodies respond to stress?

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Stage 1: Alarm

-initial reaction to a stressor

-activates “fight or flight”

-release of stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol)

-rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and energy

-temporary drop in stress resistance as the body reacts to the initial shock

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Stage 2: Resistance

-body attempts to adapt to ongoing stress

-physiological arousal remains elevated but stabilizes

-energy resources are mobilized to cope with stress

-if stress persists too long, resources begin to deplete

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Stage 3: Exhaustion

-the body’s energy and resources are depleted

-stress resistance drops significantly

-physical symptoms: fatigue, headaches, weakened immune system

-mental symptoms: difficulty concentrating, irritability, burnout

-increased risk of burnout, illness, and chronic health problems

mediators

are factors that influence how we respond to stress

-includes social support, coping skills, personality traits, and perception

-can increase or decrease stress effects

-help explain individual differences in stress reactions

tend and befriend theory

alternative to “fight or flight”

more common in females (bio. influenced)

stress triggers caregiving(tending) and social bonding(befriending)

releases oxytocins, promoting calm and connection

problem-focused coping strategy

-actively works to solve the problem

-outward-focused

-aims to eliminate the stressor

-often a long-term strategy

-addresses the source of stress

emotion-focused coping strategy

-manages emotional reactions to stress

-inward-focused

-aims to reduce emotional distress

-often a short-term strategy

-addresses your emotional response