PSYC 104 Chapter 13- Stress, Lifestyle, & Happiness

Stress Definition: Stress is any situation (real or perceived) that threatens a person’s well-being. It can cause physical illness, especially when prolonged.
Stress Response: Stress triggers a fight-or-flight response, which includes an outpouring of adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine, increasing heart rate, respiration, and energy mobilization.
Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Stress:
- Adaptive Stress: Helps in life-threatening situations by enhancing survival instincts.
- Maladaptive Stress: When chronic, it can lead to health issues such as cardiovascular diseases.

Chronic Stress Impact: Prolonged stress can lead to elevated blood pressure, contributing to coronary heart disease, a condition where blood vessels supplying the heart become clogged.
Coronary Artery Blockage: Can restrict oxygen and nutrient supply to the heart muscle, leading to health complications.

Type A Personality: Characterized by competitiveness, impatience, aggression, and a tendency to be anger-prone. These individuals are more likely to develop heart disease.
Type B Personality: Easygoing and relaxed individuals who are less likely to suffer from stress-related illnesses.

Problem-Focused Coping: Involves addressing the stressor directly by changing the situation or one’s response to it.
Emotion-Focused Coping: Involves managing emotional reactions when one cannot change the stressful situation, focusing on emotional well-being.

Aerobic Exercise: Engaging in regular physical activity can boost mood, improve self-confidence, and reduce anxiety and depression.
Biofeedback, Relaxation, and Meditation:
- Biofeedback: Uses electronic devices to inform individuals about their physiological responses and helps them control these responses to improve health.
- Relaxation and Meditation: These techniques help in reducing tension and anxiety by promoting calmness.

Happy People’s Mindset: Those who are happy tend to perceive the world as safer, make decisions easily, and are more cooperative. They live healthier, energized, and more satisfying lives.
Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon: Happiness can lead to greater altruism, where happy individuals are more likely to help others.

Definition: Subjective well-being refers to self-perceived happiness and life satisfaction. It is a key focus of positive psychology.

Wealth and Happiness: While wealth can prevent misery, it does not guarantee happiness. Happiness tends to increase with income up to about $75,000 annually, after which it plateaus.

International Happiness Data: Studies show countries like Puerto Rico and Mexico, despite being economically poorer, rank high in life satisfaction and happiness.

Love vs. Money: Individuals who value love over money tend to report higher life satisfaction, highlighting the importance of emotional connections over material wealth.

Adaptation-Level Phenomenon: People tend to adapt to new income levels, so satisfaction with material wealth is often short-lived.
Relative Deprivation: The perception that one is worse off compared to others can negatively affect happiness. This is often exacerbated by social comparisons, especially on social media.

Why Are Some People Happier Than Others? Several factors influence happiness, including personality, values, and external circumstances like wealth or relationships.