1. Stress and Health

• 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.

2. Stress and the Heart

• 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.

3. Personality Types and Stress

• 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.

4. Coping with Stress

• 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.

5. Stress Reduction Techniques

• 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.

6. Happiness

• 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.

7. Subjective Well-Being

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

8. Money and Happiness

• 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.

9. Happiness & Satisfaction Across Countries

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

10. Values and Life Satisfaction

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

11. Adaptation and Happiness

• 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.

12. Predictors of Happiness

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