AP Psych Unit 5

Health psychology

The study of how psychological factors influence physical health and well-being

Stress

The physiological and psychological response to threatening or challenging demands

Stressors

Environmental demands or situations that cause stress

Eustress

Positive or beneficial stress that motivates and energizes

Distress

Negative stress that causes harm or discomfort

Traumatic stressors

Severe life-threatening events that cause extreme stress

Daily hassles

Minor everyday frustrations and challenges that accumulate stress

Amygdala

Brain structure involved in processing emotions and fear responses

Endocrine system

Network of glands that produce and release hormones

Cortisol

Stress hormone released by the adrenal glands

Adrenaline

Stress hormone that increases heart rate and prepares the body for action

HPA Axis

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis - the system that helps the body adapt to and regulate stress

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Traumatic or stressful events experienced in childhood

General adaptation syndrome

Selye's theory of the body's response to prolonged stress in three phases

Alarm reaction

First stage of general adaptation syndrome - the immediate stress response

Resistance phase

Second stage of general adaptation syndrome - the body adapts to prolonged stress

Exhaustion phase

Third stage of general adaptation syndrome - depletion occurs when stress is unrelenting

Fight-flight-freeze response

Immediate physiological and behavioral response to threat

Tend-and-befriend theory

Theory that stress responses include seeking social support and nurturing others

Problem-focused coping

Coping strategy that directly addresses the source of stress

Emotion-focused coping

Coping strategy that addresses emotional responses to stress rather than the stressor itself

Positive psychology

Branch of psychology focused on strengths and well-being and human flourishing

Well-being

State of physical and mental and social health and life satisfaction

Resilience

Ability to recover from adversity and adapt to challenging circumstances

Gratitude

Appreciation and thankfulness for positive experiences and relationships

Subjective well-being

Personal evaluation of one's own happiness and life satisfaction

Character strengths and virtues

Positive qualities including wisdom and courage and humanity and justice and temperance and transcendence

Posttraumatic growth

Positive psychological change resulting from struggle with adversity

Psychological disorder

Pattern of thoughts and feelings and behaviors that cause significant distress or dysfunction

3Ds of psychological disorders

Dysfunction and Distress and Deviation from social norms

Diagnostic classification systems

Standardized systems for diagnosing and assessing mental disorders

Culture-bound syndromes

Psychological disorders specific to particular cultural contexts

Ataque de nervios

Culture-bound syndrome involving panic and emotional outbursts

Taijin kyofusho

Culture-bound syndrome involving fear of offending others with one's appearance or behavior

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)

Classification system used by the American Psychiatric Association

International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)

Classification system used by the World Health Organization

Behavioral perspective

View that psychological disorders result from maladaptive learned associations

Psychodynamic perspective

View that disorders stem from unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences

Humanistic perspective

View that disorders result from lack of social support and unfulfilled potential

Cognitive perspective

View that disorders result from maladaptive thoughts and irrational beliefs and negative interpretations

Evolutionary perspective

View that disorders involve behaviors that were once adaptive for survival and natural selection

Sociocultural perspective

View that disorders result from maladaptive social and cultural dynamics

Biological perspective

View that disorders result from brain and neurobiological physiological or genetic issues

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation - low levels linked to depression

Biopsychosocial model

Framework that psychological disorders result from biological and psychological and social factors combined

Diathesis-stress model

Theory that psychological disorders result from genetic predisposition (diathesis) combined with environmental stress

Diathesis

Genetic or biological predisposition to developing a disorder

Eclectic approach

Therapeutic approach that combines methods from different psychological perspectives

Stigma

Negative attitudes and beliefs about people with psychological disorders

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on their condition or characteristics

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty with attention and impulse control and hyperactivity

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences in social communication and repetitive behaviors

Delusions

False beliefs that persist despite contradictory evidence

Persecution delusions

False belief that one is being targeted or harmed by others

Grandeur delusions

False belief that one has exceptional abilities and importance or identity

Hallucinations

Sensory perceptions without corresponding external stimuli

Disorganized thinking/speech

Incoherent or illogical thought patterns and communication

Word salad

Speech that is incomprehensible due to severely disorganized thinking

Disorganized motor behavior

Unusual or unpredictable physical movements and actions

Catatonia

State of reduced responsiveness and lack of purposeful movement

Catatonic excitement

Excessive and purposeless motor activity

Catatonic stupor

State of minimal responsiveness and immobility

Positive symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia involving the presence of unusual experiences (hallucinations and delusions)

Negative symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia involving the absence or reduction of normal functioning

Flat affect

Reduced or absent emotional expression

Dopamine hypothesis

Theory that schizophrenia involves excess dopamine activity in the brain

Major depressive disorder

Severe depressive disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest

Persistent depressive disorder

Chronic depressive disorder lasting at least two years

Sad/empty/irritable mood

Core mood symptoms of depressive disorders

Cognitive Triad

Pattern of negative thoughts about self and world/others and future associated with depression

Antidepressants

Medications that increase available neurotransmitters to alleviate depression

SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - medications that temporarily increase the levels of available serotonin

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy that addresses both maladaptive thoughts and behaviors

Cognitive restructuring/reframing

Technique of identifying and changing distorted thought patterns

Specific phobia

Anxiety disorder involving intense fear of a specific object or situation

Acrophobia

Specific phobia - fear of heights

Arachnophobia

Specific phobia - fear of spiders

Agoraphobia

Anxiety disorder involving fear of public spaces and situations from which escape is difficult

Panic disorder

Anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks

Panic attack

Sudden intense fear response with physical symptoms

Social anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorder involving fear of social situations and judgment by others

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Anxiety disorder characterized by persistent and excessive worry about multiple aspects of life

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions that cause distress

Obsessions

Intrusive and unwanted thoughts or images that cause anxiety

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety from obsessions

Hoarding disorder

Disorder characterized by excessive acquisition and difficulty discarding possessions

Exposure Response Therapy (ERP)

Treatment for OCD involving exposure to anxiety-provoking situations without engaging in compulsion