Psychology of Emotions, Stress, and Hunger: Key Concepts and Pathways

Relationship between Emotional Arousal and Nervous System

The nervous system regulates the bodies responses to emotions. (parasympathetic and sympathetic branches in nervous system)

Universal Emotions

Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust

Brain's Pathway for Emotions

Two pathways: the low road (Amgygala) and the high road (Cortex). The low road is the fast rapid responses while the high road is the more thought-processed responses.

How does stress relate to the immune system and heart disease?

Stress can weaken the immune system and make the body take longer to fight off diseases. Fight or Flight leads to rapid heart rate and blood pressure which can lead to heart diseases over time.

What is the link between stress, exercise, social support, and faith communities

Exercise, social support, and faith communities are all ways of managing and coping with stress and calming the body down.

Describe the 3 phases of the General Adaption System

Alarm-nervous system activated

Resistance-Adrenaline and hormones

Exhaustion-Adrenaline wears off

Describe the roll of stress in causing coronary heart disease and contrast Type A and Type B personalities.

Type A personalities are more competitive, hostile, and are more at risk for smoking and developing heart diseases by the release of adrenaline. Type B personalities are more calm and relaxed individuals and handle stress in better ways leading to less heart diseases.

What are the advantages of doing aerobic exercise as a way of managing stress

Reduces stress hormones, increases endorphins, and distracts the mind from worries

Psychological Determinants of Hunger

Undereating and overeating can occur due to emotional states, social contexts, and memories.

Hunger Hormones

Ghrelin stimulates appetite, leptin suppresses hunger, and the rest regulate appetite.

3 Categories of Stressors

Life altering events, Daily hassles, Catastrophes

What does glucose do?

Primary source of energy and sugar in the body.

Spillover Effect

The tendency for emotions from one stressful event to pour into another unrelated event.

High Road Emotions

Emotions that take longer to develop and are carefully laid out in the prefrontal cortex.

Low Road Emotions

Emotions that developed fast and rapidly in the amygdala.

Facial Feedback Effect

Theory that facial expressions can influence emotional experience.

Fight or Flight Response

Two responses that a human has when dealing with an immediate danger that involves either confronting the danger (fight) or escaping it (flight).

Sympathetic Nervous System

Responsible for the bodies fight or flight response and releases hormones and adrenaline to help the body survive.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Counters the sympathetic nervous system and slows down the heart rate and calms the body down.

Hormones in Stress Response

Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol.

Tend and Befriend Responses

The response typically had by women to seek support or offer support as a way of coping with stress.

Lymphocytes and Macrophages

Cells that fight off diseases in the immune system. Are decreased when body is stressed.

Catharsis

The process of releasing emotions which can provide relief. (Opening up)

Feel-good, Do-good Phenomenon

The tendency for people in a good mood to be more likely to help others.

Explanatory Style (Optimistic vs Pessimistic)

Optimistic- sees positive things as permanent while negative things are temporary

Pessimistic- View negative things as permanent and positive things as temporary.

4 types of approaches to conflicts

Approach-approach (win-win), Approach-Avoidance (pros-cons), Avoidance-Avoidance (lose-lose), Multiple Approach-Avoidance (many pros-cons).

Homeostasis

The mind's tendency to maintain a stable internal state and remain balanced at equilibrium.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Describes the relationship between stress and performance. Stress can improve performance to a certain extent and after that performance declines.

Problem-focused Coping

A way of managing stress by directly facing the stressor and cause of problem.

Emotion-focused Coping

Managing stress by paying attention to your emotional response instead of addressing the cause of the stress and problem.

Ghrelin

Hormone that sends hungry message

Leptin

A hormone that sends not hungry hormones

Lateral Hypothalamus

Area in brain that tells body to eat more

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Area in brain that tells you to eat less

Situational Influence on Eating

Presence of day, time of day, social setting, lack of activity can all promote hunger even when energy is not needed.