Unit 5: Psychology

Health Psychology

The study of how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness

Stress

The body's response to perceived threats or challenges

Hypertension

Chronically high blood pressure, often linked to stress

Immune Suppression

Reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections due to stress

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates and enhances performance

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Selye’s model describing the body’s response to stress in three stages

Alarm

The first stage of GAS, where the body reacts to a stressor with heightened physiological arousal

Resistance

The second stage of GAS, where the body tries to adapt to prolonged stress

Fight-Flight-Freeze Response

The body's automatic reaction to threats, preparing to fight, flee, or freeze

Coping

Strategies used to manage stress

Problem-Focused Coping

Coping by addressing the root cause of stress

Emotion-Focused Coping

Coping by managing emotional reactions rather than the stressor itself

Meditation

A practice that promotes relaxation and mindfulness to reduce stress

Distress

Negative stress that impairs performance and well-being

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic events in childhood that increase the risk of health and psychological problems

Exhaustion

The final stage of GAS, where the body’s resources are depleted

Tend-and-Befriend Theory

The idea that people, especially women, respond to stress by nurturing others and seeking social support

Positive Psychology

A field that focuses on strengths, virtues, and factors that contribute to well-being

Well-Being

A state of good physical, mental, and emotional health

Resilience

The ability to recover from adversity

Wisdom

Deep understanding and good judgment based on experience

Courage

The ability to act despite fear or adversity

Humanity

Compassion and kindness toward others

Justice

Fairness and moral integrity in interactions with others

Temperance

Self-control and moderation

Gratitude

The quality of being thankful and appreciative

Signature Strengths

An individual’s strongest personal traits or virtues

Virtues

Positive moral traits valued across cultures

Character Strengths

Positive traits that contribute to well-being and ethical behavior

Transcendence

A sense of meaning and connection to something greater than oneself

Psychological Disorder

A mental condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, emotions, or behaviors

Dysfunction

Impaired ability to function in daily life due to psychological symptoms

Distress

Emotional suffering caused by a disorder

Stigma

Negative societal attitudes and discrimination toward individuals with mental disorders

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

The organization that publishes the DSM, which classifies mental disorders

Eclectic Approach

Using multiple psychological perspectives to treat mental disorders

Behavioral Perspective

The approach that emphasizes learning and behavior modification

Maladaptive Behaviors

Actions that interfere with daily functioning and well-being

Psychodynamic Perspective

Freud’s approach, emphasizing unconscious conflicts

Humanistic Perspective

A focus on personal growth and self-actualization in understanding mental disorders

Cognitive Perspective

The approach that emphasizes the role of maladaptive thoughts in psychological disorders

Maladaptive Thoughts

Negative or irrational thought patterns that contribute to mental disorders

Biopsychosocial Model

A framework that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in mental health

Diathesis-Stress Model

The theory that mental disorders develop due to a genetic predisposition and environmental stressors

Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A classification system for diagnosing mental disorders

World Health Organization (WHO)

An international body that provides guidelines for global mental health

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

A global system for classifying mental illnesses

Evolutionary Perspectives

The idea that psychological disorders may stem from evolutionary adaptations

Sociocultural Perspective

The view that mental disorders are influenced by cultural and societal factors

Maladaptive Relationships

Dysfunctional interpersonal interactions that contribute to psychological distress

Biological Perspective

The approach that explains mental disorders through genetics, brain function, and neurochemistry

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Mental disorders that emerge in early childhood, such as autism and ADHD

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

A range of disorders involving severe disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior

Delusions

Strongly held false beliefs that are resistant to evidence

Delusions of Persecution

The false belief that others are plotting against or harming the individual

Delusions of Grandeur

The false belief that one has special abilities, status, or importance

Hallucinations

False sensory perceptions, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there

Disorganized Thinking or Speech

Thought patterns that are fragmented or illogical

Word Salad

A jumble of words that make no logical sense, often seen in schizophrenia

Disorganized Motor Behavior

Unusual or erratic physical movements

Depressive Disorders

Mental disorders characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest

Major Depressive Disorder

A condition marked by prolonged periods of deep sadness and hopelessness

Bipolar Disorders

Mood disorders that involve episodes of mania and depression

Mania

A state of extreme excitement, energy, and impulsivity

Depression

A persistent feeling of sadness, worthlessness, and lack of motivation

Catatonia

A severe state of motor dysfunction in which an individual may remain motionless or exhibit agitated movement

Stupor

A state of near-unconsciousness or lack of response to stimuli

Catatonic Stupor

A condition where an individual remains in a fixed position and is unresponsive

Negative Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia involving a loss of normal functions, such as lack of emotion or speech

Flat Affect

A lack of emotional expression

Positive Symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia involving the presence of abnormal behaviors, such as hallucinations and delusions

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by distorted thinking, emotions, and behaviors

Acute Schizophrenia

A sudden onset of schizophrenia symptoms

Chronic Schizophrenia

A long-term form of schizophrenia with persistent symptoms

Dopamine Hypothesis

The theory that schizophrenia is linked to excessive dopamine activity in the brain

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic form of depression with less severe but long-lasting symptoms