Chapter 14 - Keywords

stressors

specific events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten a person’s wellbeing

stress

the physical and psychological response to internal or external stressors

health psychology

the subfield of psychology concerned with how psychological factors influence the causes and treatment of physical illness and the maintenance of health

chronic stressors

sources of stress that occur continuously or repeatedly

fight-or-flight response

an emotional and physiological reaction to an emergency that increases readiness for action

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

a three-stage physiological stress response that appears regardless of the stressor that is encountered

telomeres

caps at the ends of the chromosomes that prevent the chromosomes from sticking to each other

telomerase

an enzyme that rebuilds telomeres at the tips of chromosomes

immune system

a complex response system that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances

lymphocytes

white blood cells that produce antibodies that fight infection, including T cells and B cells

type A behavior pattern

a tendency toward easily aroused hostility, impatience, a sense of time urgency, and competitive achievement striving

burnout

a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lowered performance and motivation

repressive coping

avoiding feelings, thoughts, or situations that are reminders of a stressor and maintaining an artificially positive viewpoint

rational coping

facing a stressor and working to overcome it

reframing

finding a new or creative way to think about a stressor that reduces its threat

stress inoculation training (SIT)

a reframing technique that helps people cope with stressful situations by developing positive ways to think about the situations

meditation

the practice of intentional contemplation

relaxation therapy

a technique for reducing tension by consciously relaxing muscles of the body

relaxation response

a condition of reduced muscle tension, cortical activity, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure

biofeedback

the use of an external monitoring device to obtain information about a bodily function and then to possibly gain control over that function

social support

aid gained through interacting with others

sick role

a socially recognized set of rights and obligations linked with illness

self-regulation

the exercise of voluntary control over the self to bring the self into line with preferred standards