AP Psych Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health

Health psychology

A field of psychology that focuses on how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness.

Eustress

A positive form of stress that can motivate and energize a person.

Adverse childhood experience (ACE)

Potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood, impacting long-term health and behavior.

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage physiological response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Fight, flight, freeze response

A physiological reaction to perceived harmful events or threats that prepares the body to confront or flee from danger.

Tend and befriend theory

A behavioral response to stress where individuals take care of others and seek social support.

Problem-focused coping

A coping strategy that aims to address the issue causing stress directly.

Emotion-focused coping

A coping strategy aimed at managing emotional distress rather than solving the problem itself.

Positive psychology

A branch of psychology that studies the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Resilience

The ability to recover quickly from adversity, trauma, or stress.

Subjective well-being

An individual’s self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life.

Positive subjective experience

Experiences interpreted as positive or pleasurable by individuals.

Positive objective experience

Events that objectively contribute to well-being, regardless of subjective interpretation.

Virtues

Traits or qualities deemed to be morally good, including courage, temperance, wisdom, and humanity.

Post-traumatic growth

Positive psychological change experienced as a result of adversity.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; a tool for classifying mental disorders.

ICD

The International Classification of Diseases; a diagnostic tool for health conditions.

Eclectic approach

An approach to therapy that incorporates techniques from various psychological schools.

Behavioral perspective

A psychological approach emphasizing environmental factors in shaping behavior through conditioning.

Psychodynamic perspective

A view emphasizing the influence of unconscious processes and childhood experiences on behavior.

Humanistic perspective

A psychological approach emphasizing individual potential and growth.

Cognitive perspective

A viewpoint focusing on mental processes such as perception and problem-solving.

Evolutionary perspective

An approach examining psychological traits as adaptations for survival and reproduction.

Sociocultural perspective

A framework focusing on how social and cultural environments influence behavior.

Biological perspective

An approach viewing behavior as a product of biological factors.

Biopsychosocial model

A holistic approach integrating biological, psychological, and social factors.

Diathesis-stress model

A theory explaining mental disorders as a result of vulnerability and life stress.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

A neurodevelopmental disorder marked by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

A range of neurodevelopmental conditions with challenges in social skills and communication.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder affecting thoughts and emotions, characterized by delusions and hallucinations.

Delusions

False beliefs held despite contradictory evidence, like persecution or grandeur.

Hallucination

A false perception, such as seeing or hearing things that do not exist.

Word salad

A mixture of incoherent words and phrases often associated with severe mental disorders.

Catatonia

A state of unresponsiveness that can involve rigid posture or lack of movement.

Dopamine hypothesis

A theory suggesting an imbalance of dopamine levels contributes to schizophrenia symptoms.

Stupor

A condition of greatly reduced responsiveness associated with severe mental disorders.

Flat affect

A lack of emotional expression, typically observed in certain mental disorders.

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

A chronic form of depression lasting at least two years.

Bipolar I Disorder

A mental disorder characterized by severe manic episodes.

Bipolar II Disorder

A milder form characterized by recurrent major depressive and hypomanic episodes.

Bipolar cycling

The process of shifting between manic and depressive states in bipolar disorder.

Phobia

A persistent, irrational fear of a specific object or situation leading to avoidance.

Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder characterized by fear of situations where escape might be difficult.

Panic Disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by recurrent unexpected panic attacks.

Ataque de Nervios

A psychological syndrome characterized by emotional distress symptoms, relevant in Latino cultures.

Social Anxiety Disorder

An intense fear of being judged by others in social situations.

Taijin Kyofusho

A cultural variant of social anxiety disorder prevalent in Japan.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A chronic disorder characterized by excessive worry about various life aspects.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A mental condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

Hoarding Disorder

A condition involving difficulty discarding possessions due to perceived need to save them.

Dissociative Amnesia

A disorder characterized by inability to recall important personal information, often related to trauma.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

A severe form of dissociation characterized by the presence of multiple distinct personality states.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A psychiatric disorder following a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks and severe anxiety.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by fear of gaining weight and distorted body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A type of personality disorder marked by distrust and suspicion of others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by lack of interest in social relationships.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by social anxiety, odd thoughts, and eccentric behavior.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by a pattern of disregard for the rights of others.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A personality disorder marked by an inflated sense of self-importance.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by intense emotions and unstable relationships.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

A disorder characterized by social inhibition and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.

Dependent Personality Disorder

A condition exhibiting overly dependent behaviors and a need for care.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A personality disorder characterized by preoccupation with orderliness and perfectionism.

Cultural humility

An approach emphasizing self-reflection about cultural differences.

Deinstitutionalization

A policy shift aimed at reducing the reliance on psychiatric hospitals.

Free association

A psychoanalytic technique where patients speak freely about their thoughts.

Cognitive triad

A theory explaining depression as a negative view of the self, the world, and the future.

Cognitive restructuring

A process aimed at identifying and changing negative thought patterns.

Applied behavior analysis

A therapy that focuses on improving specific behaviors through behaviorism principles.

Exposure therapy

A treatment for anxiety disorders involving gradual exposure to feared objects.

Systematic desensitization

A technique designed to reduce anxiety through gradual exposure and relaxation.

Aversion therapy

A behavioral treatment pairing unwanted behaviors with unpleasant stimuli.

Token economy

A system that reinforces desirable behaviors through tokens exchangeable for rewards.

Biofeedback

A technique teaching individuals to control physiological processes through monitoring.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

A psychotherapy integrating cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Dialectical behavior therapy

A psychotherapy combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness.

Rational-emotive behavior therapy

A form of therapy focusing on changing irrational beliefs leading to negative emotions.

Person-centered therapy (active listening)

A counseling approach emphasizing an empathetic environment for personal growth.

Lithium

A medication commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.

Tardive dyskinesia

A side effect of long-term antipsychotic medication causing involuntary movements.

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)

A treatment for severe depression involving electrical stimulation of the brain.

Lobotomy

A largely abandoned surgical procedure that severed connections in the brain to treat severe disorders.