unit 5: mental and physical health

Health Psychology

The study of psychological and behavioral processes in health, illness, and healthcare.

Stress

The psychological and physiological response to perceived challenges or threats.

Hypertension

Chronic high blood pressure, often stress-related, affecting cardiovascular health.

Immune Suppression

The reduction in the effectiveness of the immune system, often due to stress.

Stressors

Specific events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten their well-being.

Daily Hassles

Everyday minor events that cause stress.

Significant Life Changes

Major life transitions that can be sources of stress.

Catastrophes

Large-scale events that require adaptation through significant personal change.

Eustress

Positive, motivating stress that enhances one's functioning.

Distress

Negative stress that can lead to health problems or decreased functioning.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The three-stage process that describes the physiological changes the body goes through when under stress

Alarm Reaction Phase

The initial reaction to a stressor, activating the sympathetic nervous system.

Resistance Phase

The body adapts to the stressor but at a high cost in energy and effort.

Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

The body's automatic system designed to protect it from threat or danger.

Exhaustion Phase

The phase in which the body's ability to resist is depleted.

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

A theory proposing that women are more likely to respond to stress with nurturing behaviors and forming alliances than fight-or-flight.

Problem-Focused Coping

Strategies aimed at tackling a stressful situation directly.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Strategies aimed at managing the emotional response to stress.

Positive Psychology

The study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Subjective Well-being

How people experience the quality of their lives, including emotional reactions and cognitive judgments.

Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

Posttraumatic Growth

Positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances.

Positive Emotions

Feelings that engage us, uplift us, and make life feel meaningful.

Gratitude

A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.

Signature Strengths & Virtues

Personal characteristics that help individuals navigate life effectively.

Categories of Virtues

Broad domains of human behavior that reflect good character (wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence).

Abnormal Psychology

The study of psychological disorders and their treatment.

Clinical Psychology

The branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and disability.

DSM-5-TR

The manual used by clinicians to diagnose and classify mental disorders.

ICD

A globally used diagnostic tool for health conditions and related problems.

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Emphasizes unconscious processes and early childhood experiences.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes human potential, growth, and goodness.

Cognitive Perspective

Focuses on how we perceive, think, and solve problems.

Evolutionary Perspective

Studies behavior using principles of natural selection.

Sociocultural Perspective

Examines how social and cultural environments influence behavior.

Biological Perspective

Studies the biological bases of behavior and mental processes.

Biopsychosocial Model

An integrated approach including biological, psychological, and social factors.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety.

Specific Phobia

Irrational fear of a specific object or situation.

Acrophobia

Fear of heights.

Arachnophobia

Fear of spiders.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape may be difficult.

Ataque de nervios

A cultural syndrome involving intense emotional distress, common in Latino communities.

Taijin Kyofusho

A Japanese cultural syndrome involving fear of offending others.

Panic Disorder

Sudden, repeated panic attacks.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of social situations.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Chronic, excessive worry and tension.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Persistent unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders

Disorders caused by exposure to trauma or stress.

PTSD

A disorder involving prolonged distress after trauma.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Disorders affecting brain development and functioning.

ADHD

A disorder involving inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A developmental disorder affecting social interaction and behavior.

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Disorders involving disturbed eating behaviors.

Anorexia Nervosa

Disorder involving extreme weight loss and fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Disorder involving binge eating followed by purging behaviors.

Personality Disorders

Disorders involving inflexible and maladaptive personality traits.

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Odd or eccentric behaviors (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal).

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Distrust and suspicion of others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Social detachment.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Unusual thoughts and behaviors.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Dramatic and emotional behaviors.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Disregard for others’ rights.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Excessive attention-seeking.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Grandiosity and lack of empathy.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Instability in relationships and emotions.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

Anxious and fearful behaviors.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy.

Dependent Personality Disorder

Excessive need to be cared for.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Preoccupation with order and control.

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Disorders involving psychosis and disorganized thinking.

Delusions

False beliefs not based in reality.

Delusions of Persecution

Belief that others are out to harm you.

Delusions of Grandeur

Belief of having great importance or power.

Hallucinations

False sensory experiences.

Disorganized Thinking

Illogical and fragmented thoughts.

Disorganized Speech

Incoherent communication.

Word Salad

Random, disconnected words.

Disorganized Motor Behavior

Unpredictable or inappropriate actions.

Catatonia

Lack of movement or responsiveness.

Flat Affect

Lack of emotional expression.

Dopamine Hypothesis

Theory that schizophrenia involves excess dopamine.

Positive Symptoms

Added behaviors (hallucinations, delusions).

Negative Symptoms

Absence of normal behaviors (flat affect, withdrawal).

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders involving disruptions in memory or identity.

Dissociative Amnesia

Loss of personal memories.

Dissociative Fugue

Sudden travel with memory loss.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Multiple distinct personalities.

Depressive Disorders

Disorders involving persistent sadness.

Major Depressive Disorder

Severe depression in episodes.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Long-term mild depression.

Bipolar Disorder

Alternating manic and depressive episodes.

Bipolar Cycling

Switching between mood states.

Bipolar I Disorder

Full manic and depressive episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

Hypomania and depression.

Deinstitutionalization

Movement of patients out of mental institutions.

Evidence-Based Interventions

Treatments supported by research.

Cultural Humility

Openness and respect toward cultural differences.