psych 5.1-5

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Health Psychology is a field that explores how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness. It examines behaviors, thoughts, and emotions related to health, as well as how individuals and communities can promote well-being and prevent illness. This interdisciplinary approach integrates principles from psychology, medicine, public health, and sociology to understand and improve health outcomes.

Behavioral Factors: Health psychology investigates how behaviors such as diet, physical activity, substance use, and adherence to medical recommendations impact health. For example, adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise routine can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Conversely, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can increase the likelihood of developing various health problems.

Cognitive Factors: Cognitive processes play a crucial role in health behaviors and outcomes. Beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions about health and illness influence decisions regarding healthcare seeking, treatment adherence, and preventive behaviors. Positive thinking, for instance, has been linked to better coping with stress and faster recovery from illnesses.

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Stress - is a physiological and psychological response to challenges or demands that exceed an individual's coping abilities. It involves the activation of the body's stress response system, including the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body to react to perceived threats or pressures.

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Eustress - refers to positive stress that motivates individuals to achieve goals, improve performance, and enhance well-being. It arises from situations perceived as challenging but manageable, stimulating feelings of excitement and satisfaction.

Distress - is negative stress that exceeds an individual's ability to cope effectively, leading to feelings of anxiety, frustration, or overwhelm. It results from situations perceived as threatening, harmful, or beyond one's control.

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General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)- proposed by Hans Selye, describes the body's physiological response to stressors through three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This model helps explain how individuals respond to various stressors, whether physical, psychological, or environmental.

During the alarm stage, the body perceives a stressor and activates the "fight-or-flight" response. The sympathetic nervous system releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, preparing the body to respond to the perceived threat. Physiological changes include increased heart rate, heightened senses, and a surge in energy.

If the stressor persists, the body enters the resistance stage, where it attempts to adapt and cope with the ongoing challenge. Hormone levels stabilize to sustain the heightened state of readiness, allowing individuals to continue functioning despite the stressor's presence. However, physiological resources are gradually depleted.

If stress continues without relief or adaptation, the body enters the exhaustion stage. Physiological resources become depleted, and the body's ability to cope diminishes. Chronic stress can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, increased vulnerability to illness, and impaired cognitive functioning.

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Tend-and-Befriend Theory - proposes that in response to stress, individuals, especially women, are biologically predisposed to seek social connections and support (befriending) and nurture others (tending). This theory contrasts with the fight-or-flight response traditionally associated with stress responses. During a natural disaster, individuals may collaborate to provide aid and emotional support, demonstrating the tend-and-befriend response's role in community resilience and coping with adversity.

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Problem-Focused Coping - involves actively managing or altering stressful situations through direct actions or problem-solving strategies. This approach aims to change the stressful circumstances or one's response to them, thereby reducing the impact of stressors. When faced with a work deadline, using problem-focused coping might involve breaking down tasks, setting priorities, and allocating time efficiently to meet the deadline, thereby reducing stress and enhancing productivity.

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Emotion-Focused Coping - involves regulating emotional responses to stressors, rather than altering the stressors themselves. This approach aims to manage the emotional distress caused by stressors through strategies like seeking emotional support, distraction, or reframing the situation. Following a significant loss, individuals may engage in emotion-focused coping by talking to friends or participating in support groups to process grief and find comfort in shared experiences, facilitating emotional healing

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Positive Psychology - focuses on the study of human strengths and well-being, aiming to understand and promote factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive. It emphasizes positive emotions, character strengths, and constructive experiences to foster optimal functioning and happiness.

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Expressing Gratitude - involves recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of life and the kindness of others. This practice can be spontaneous or intentional, such as keeping a gratitude journal or thanking someone directly. It helps increase the subjects well-being.

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Positive psychology identifies six core virtues that encompass various character strengths:

1. Wisdom: Cognitive strengths that involve acquiring and using knowledge.

2. Courage: Emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will toaccomplish goals in the face of opposition.

3. Humanity: Interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others.

4. Justice: Civic strengths that underlie healthy community life.

5. Temperance: Strengths that protect against excess.

6. Transcendence: Strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning.

Cultivating these virtues promotes personal development, resilience, and ethical behavior. They contribute to a fulfilling and purposeful life, guiding individuals toward actions that align with their core values and enhance societal well-being.

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Posttraumatic Growth - refers to the positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances. It involves finding new meaning, personal strength, and appreciation for life following adversity. A cancer survivor may experience posttraumatic growth by developing a renewed sense of life’s value, engaging in advocacy work, or deepening relationships with loved ones, illustrating how adversity can lead to profound personal growth and a positive outlook on life.

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Psychological Disorders - also known as mental disorders, are conditions characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These disorders cause significant distress or impairment in personal, social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Level of Dysfunction refers to the extent to which a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interfere with their ability to perform daily activities. This can include disruptions in work, school, social interactions, and self-care. Dysfunction is a key criterion for diagnosing psychological disorders. It highlights the practical impact of symptoms on an individual's life, emphasizing the need for treatment to restore functioning.

Perception of Distress - involves the subjective experience of emotional or psychological pain. It is a critical factor in identifying psychological disorders, as individuals may seek help when their distress becomes unbearable. Distress can manifest as intense emotional suffering, such as feelings of worthlessness or panic. It motivates individuals to seek relief and treatment, influencing their mental health journey.

Deviation from Social Norms - refers to behaviors, thoughts, or feelings that significantly differ from what is considered typical or acceptable within a society or culture. These deviations can indicate potential psychological disorders. In some cultures, hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) may be considered a spiritual experience, while in others, it may be seen as a symptom of a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia.

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Diagnosing Psychological Disorders - involves a systematic assessment of symptoms, including their duration, intensity, and impact on functioning. This process typically includes clinical interviews, psychological testing, and consideration of medical history. Diagnosing or classifying psychological disorders has positive and negative consequences depending on the nature of the disorder the individual being diagnosed, and the presence of cultural/societal norms, stigma, racism, sexism, ageism, and discrimination.

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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) - is a comprehensive classification system published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that provides standardized criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. It is widely used by clinicians and researchers in the United States and internationally. The DSM offers a common language for diagnosing and understanding psychological disorders, ensuring consistency and reliability in mental health assessments and treatments.

International Classification of Diseases (ICD) - is a global health information standard maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO). It includes a section on mental and behavioral disorders, providing diagnostic criteria and codes for mental health conditions. The ICD is used internationally, promoting a standardized approach to diagnosing and treating mental disorders across different countries and cultures. It facilitates global health reporting and research.

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Eclectic Approach - in psychology is a therapeutic strategy that combines elements from various psychological theories and techniques to address an individual's specific needs. Rather than adhering strictly to one school of thought, an eclectic therapist integrates methods from different approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and others, to tailor treatment to the unique circumstances of each client.

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Behavioral Perspective - views psychological disorders as maladaptive behaviors learned through conditioning. This approach emphasizes observable behaviors rather than internal processes. Disorders are seen as the result of improper learning experiences, where inappropriate behaviors have been reinforced or adaptive behaviors have not been adequately learned. A person with a phobia of spiders might have developed this fear through classical conditioning (associating spiders with a traumatic experience). Behavioral therapy, like systematic desensitization, aims to extinguish this fear by gradually exposing the person to spiders in a controlled and safe environment.

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Psychodynamic Perspective - rooted in Freudian theory, views psychological disorders as stemming from unconscious conflicts, childhood experiences, and repressed emotions. Disorders are believed to arise from unresolved internal conflicts and the influence of unconscious forces on behavior. A person with depression might explore unresolved grief or internal conflicts from childhood in psychodynamic therapy, aiming to bring these issues to consciousness and resolve them, thereby alleviating depressive symptoms.

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Humanistic Perspective - emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the achievement of one's potential. Psychological disorders are viewed as barriers to personal growth caused by conditions that thwart self-actualization, such as lack of unconditional positive regard or failure to meet basic needs. A person struggling with low self-esteem and existential anxiety might benefit from humanistic therapy, where the therapist offers unconditional positive regard and empathetic understanding to help the individual realize their potential and develop a more positive self-concept.

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Cognitive Perspective - views psychological disorders as resulting from faulty or distorted thinking patterns. Cognitive distortions, such as overgeneralization or catastrophic thinking, lead to maladaptive behaviors and emotions. A person with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) might learn to identify and challenge irrational thoughts that contribute to excessive worry, thereby reducing anxiety and improving coping mechanisms.

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Evolutionary Perspective - explains psychological disorders in terms of adaptive functions that have become maladaptive in modern environments. Traits or behaviors that were advantageous for survival and reproduction in ancestral environments may contribute to disorders today due to mismatches with contemporary living conditions. Social anxiety disorder may be seen as an exaggerated form of social vigilance that was beneficial in early human societies for detecting threats. Treatment might focus on reducing this heightened vigilance and developing social skills for modern contexts.

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Sociocultural Perspective - emphasizes the role of societal and cultural influences on psychological disorders. It considers factors such as social norms, cultural expectations, and socio-economic conditions as significant contributors to the development and expression of disorders. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa can be influenced by cultural ideals of beauty and body image. Sociocultural therapy might involve addressing these cultural pressures and promoting healthy body image through education and support groups.

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Biological Perspective - attributes psychological disorders to biological factors such as genetics, neurochemical imbalances, and brain abnormalities. Disorders are seen as medical conditions that can be treated with pharmacological and medical interventions. Schizophrenia is often treated with antipsychotic medications that target dopamine pathways in the brain to reduce symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, alongside supportive psychotherapy to help individuals manage their condition.

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Biopsychosocial Model - posits that psychological disorders arise from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. This model rejects the idea that mental disorders can be understood solely through one perspective, emphasizing the need to consider multiple dimensions of a person's life and health.

• Biological Factors: Genetic predispositions, neurochemical imbalances, brain abnormalities, and other physiological influences that can affect mental health.

• Psychological Factors: Cognitive patterns, emotional responses, personality traits, and coping mechanisms that influence how individuals perceive and respond to stressors.

• Social Factors: Environmental influences such as family dynamics, social support, cultural norms, socioeconomic status, and life events that impact mental health.

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Diathesis-Stress Model - suggests that psychological disorders develop due to a combination of a predisposition (diathesis) and environmental stressors. A diathesis can be genetic, biological, or psychological, and it predisposes an individual to a disorder, but the disorder manifests only when significant stress triggers it.

• Diathesis: An underlying vulnerability or predisposition that can be genetic, biological, or psychological in nature.

• Stress: Environmental factors or life events that can trigger the onset of a disorder when combined with the diathesis. These can include trauma, significant life changes, chronic stress, or adverse childhood experiences.