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Lecture_4_-_8_Heath_Psychology
Psychophysiology Overview
Definition: Examines links between psychological and physiological processes.
Key Question: How are psychological states related to physical states?
Historical Perspectives
Ancient Greece and Rome
Hippocrates: Introduced the concept of bodily humors.
Galen: Associated emotions with the four humors:
Blood - sanguine (cheerful)
Black bile - melancholy (sadness)
Yellow bile - choler (anger)
Phlegm - apathy (indifference)
Middle Ages
Roman Catholic Church Influence:
Dominated beliefs about illness caused by evil spirits.
Forbade scientific exploration of the human body.
Dualism and Psychoanalysis
Descartes' Dualism
Proposed Mind/Body Dualism: Mind/soul is separate from the body.
Psychoanalysis (Freud)
Treated hysterical paralysis through hypnosis.
Noted the influence of unconscious emotional conflicts on physical health:
Ulcers linked to oral conflicts.
Asthma linked to separation anxiety.
Homeostasis and Allostasis
Homeostasis
Concept introduced by Claude Bernard: The necessity of maintaining a balanced internal environment.
Walter Cannon's insight on the body being self-correcting.
Allostasis
More dynamic than homeostasis; involves active adaptation to stressors.
Comparison:
Homeostasis: Single optimal set points.
Allostasis: Optimal operating ranges with adjustments based on anticipated changes.
Allostatic Load
Defined by McEwen & Stellar:
Repeated allostasis results in cumulative physiological costs, e.g., decreased immunity.
Factors contributing: Chronic stressors, inability to adjust to continuous stressors.
Psychological States and Bodily Responses
Nervous System Components
Central Nervous System: Brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System:
Autonomic Nervous System: Regulates internal organs (involuntary actions).
Sympathetic: Activates fight or flight response.
Parasympathetic: Calms the body post-arousal.
Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary muscle movements.
Autonomic Nervous System Functions
Sympathetic increases heart rate, inhibits digestion.
Parasympathetic does the opposite, restoring calm.
Endocrine System
Hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland (master gland).
Stress Response:
Activation of Sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system.
Release of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine).
Activation of Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system.
Release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex.
Immune System Response to Stress
Protects against infections and disease.
Psychological stress can suppress immune functioning.
Immune conditioning (Ader & Cohen, 1975).
Cardiovascular System
Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Consequences of chronic activation: hypertension, damage to heart, arteries.
Stress Measurement and Models
Conceptualizing Stress
Stress: Response to challenging events; can be measured through life changes, daily hassles, and perceived stress.
Models:
Illness Behavior Model: Stress responses lead to sickness roles.
Indirect Effect Model: Stress results in unhealthy behaviors leading to disease.
Direct Effect Model: Stress directly affects physiological changes contributing to disease.
Diathesis-Stress Model: Predispositions interact with stress to influence health.
Cognitive Appraisal and Stress
Proposed by Lazarus & Folkman (1984): Stress response involves cognitive appraisal.
Primary Appraisal: Identifying the threat.
Secondary Appraisal: Assessing resources to cope with the threat.
Social Support and Health
Dimensions of Social Support
Emotional Support: Care and concern.
Informational Support: Suggestions for coping.
Instrumental Support: Tangible assistance.
Impact of Social Support
Matching Hypothesis: Effectiveness of social support is strongest when needs are matched with received support.
Components:
Structural: Existence and connections within social networks.
Functional: Support accessed and perceived satisfaction.
Health Outcomes: Social isolation linked to higher mortality.
Personality Traits and Health
Big Five Personality Traits
Traits: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness.
Links between traits and health behaviors.
Conscientiousness is often associated with healthier lifestyles.
Type A and Type B Behavior Patterns
Type A: Competitive, hurried, and hostile; linked to heart disease.
Type B: More relaxed; lower health risk.
Coping Mechanisms
Types of Coping
Problem-focused: Changing the stressor.
Emotion-focused: Changing emotional responses.
Avoidance: Ignoring the stressor.
Stress Reduction Strategies
Exercise: Enhances mental health, reduces anxiety, and depression.
Mindfulness: Awareness and acceptance of present thoughts positively impact well-being.
Expressive Writing: Writing about emotional experiences improves health outcomes.
Psychophysiology Overview Definition: Examines links between psychological and physiological processes. Key Question: How are psychological states related to physical states?
Historical Perspectives Ancient Greece and Rome Hippocrates: Introduced the concept of bodily humors. Galen: Associated emotions with the four humors:
Blood - sanguine (cheerful)
Black bile - melancholy (sadness)
Yellow bile - choler (anger)
Phlegm - apathy (indifference) Middle Ages Roman Catholic Church Influence:
Dominated beliefs about illness caused by evil spirits.
Forbade scientific exploration of the human body.
Dualism and Psychoanalysis Descartes' Dualism
Proposed Mind/Body Dualism: Mind/soul is separate from the body. Psychoanalysis (Freud)
Treated hysterical paralysis through hypnosis.
Noted the influence of unconscious emotional conflicts on physical health:
Ulcers linked to oral conflicts.
Asthma linked to separation anxiety.
Homeostasis and Allostasis Homeostasis
Concept introduced by Claude Bernard: The necessity of maintaining a balanced internal environment.
Walter Cannon's insight on the body being self-correcting. Allostasis
More dynamic than homeostasis; involves active adaptation to stressors.
Comparison:
Homeostasis: Single optimal set points.
Allostasis: Optimal operating ranges with adjustments based on anticipated changes. Allostatic Load
Defined by McEwen & Stellar:
Repeated allostasis results in cumulative physiological costs, e.g., decreased immunity.
Factors contributing: Chronic stressors, inability to adjust to continuous stressors.
Psychological States and Bodily Responses Nervous System Components
Central Nervous System: Brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System:
Autonomic Nervous System: Regulates internal organs (involuntary actions).
Sympathetic: Activates fight or flight response.
Parasympathetic: Calms the body post-arousal.
Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary muscle movements.
Autonomic Nervous System Functions
Sympathetic increases heart rate, inhibits digestion.
Parasympathetic does the opposite, restoring calm. Endocrine System
Hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland (master gland).
Stress Response:
Activation of Sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system.
Release of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine).
Activation of Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system.
Release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex.
Immune System Response to Stress
Protects against infections and disease.
Psychological stress can suppress immune functioning.
Immune conditioning (Ader & Cohen, 1975).
Cardiovascular System
Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Consequences of chronic activation: hypertension, damage to heart, arteries.
Stress Measurement and Models Conceptualizing Stress
Stress: Response to challenging events; can be measured through life changes, daily hassles, and perceived stress. Models:
Illness Behavior Model: Stress responses lead to sickness roles.
Indirect Effect Model: Stress results in unhealthy behaviors leading to disease.
Direct Effect Model: Stress directly affects physiological changes contributing to disease.
Diathesis-Stress Model: Predispositions interact with stress to influence health.
Cognitive Appraisal and Stress
Proposed by Lazarus & Folkman (1984): Stress response involves cognitive appraisal.
Primary Appraisal: Identifying the threat.
Secondary Appraisal: Assessing resources to cope with the threat.
Social Support and Health Dimensions of Social Support
Emotional Support: Care and concern.
Informational Support: Suggestions for coping.
Instrumental Support: Tangible assistance. Impact of Social Support
Matching Hypothesis: Effectiveness of social support is strongest when needs are matched with received support. Components:
Structural: Existence and connections within social networks.
Functional: Support accessed and perceived satisfaction.
Health Outcomes: Social isolation linked to higher mortality.
Personality Traits and Health Big Five Personality Traits
Traits: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness.
Links between traits and health behaviors.
Conscientiousness is often associated with healthier lifestyles. Type A and Type B Behavior Patterns
Type A: Competitive, hurried, and hostile; linked to heart disease.
Type B: More relaxed; lower health risk.
Coping Mechanisms Types of Coping
Problem-focused: Changing the stressor.
Emotion-focused: Changing emotional responses.
Avoidance: Ignoring the stressor. Stress Reduction Strategies
Exercise: Enhances mental health, reduces anxiety, and depression.
Mindfulness: Awareness and acceptance of present thoughts positively impact well-being.
Expressive Writing: Writing about emotional experiences improves health outcomes.
Citation: Ader, R., & Cohen, N. (1975). Psychoneuroimmunology: Interaction between the nervous system and the immune system. The American Psychologist.
Psychophysiology Overview - Simple Examples
Hippocrates: Balanced humors promote good health; emotions influence well-being.
Galen: Cheerfulness (sanguine) linked to better health.
Descartes' Dualism: Anxiety causing headaches shows mind-body connection.
Freud: Emotional trauma may result in physical paralysis.
Homeostasis: Body maintains temperature when weather changes.
Allostasis: Increased heart rate before a job interview.
Allostatic Load: Chronic stress leading to insomnia and fatigue.
Nervous System: Heart races during public speaking.
Endocrine System: Cortisol released during exam stress.
Immune Response: Stress from loss lowers immunity.
Cardiovascular System: Long-term stress causing hypertension.
Cognitive Appraisal: Assessing study resources for an upcoming exam.
Social Support: Friends providing comfort during tough times.
Conscientiousness: Healthier lifestyle choices by organized individuals.
Type A Behavior: Competitive nature linked to heart disease.
Coping - Problem-focused: Creating a budget to handle financial stress.
Coping - Emotion-focused: Using meditation for anxiety relief.
Coping - Avoidance: Binge-watching TV to escape stress.
Stress Reduction: Exercise improves mental health; mindfulness reduces stress.
