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Intro To Psychology > Chapter 10 > Flashcards

Chapter 10 Flashcards

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1
Q

what is Health Psychology?

A

The field concerned with the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of illness as it relates to psychological factors

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2
Q

what is stress?

A

the general term describing the psychological and bodily response to environmental threats and challenges that alters the body’s state of equilibrium (homeostasis)

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3
Q

what are the two types of stressors and what are examples of both?

A

Acute stressor - short lives stressor, immediate harm to us Chronic stressor - something that persists and never goes away

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4
Q

what is a Stress response?

A

fight or flight - heart rate rises, muscles tense, eyes dilate, sweating, heavy breathing

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5
Q

what are characteristics of the alarm phase in stress?

A

Fight-or-flight response Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis Cortisol, lymphocytes (e.g., t-cells and b-cells), uric acid and acetylcholine - cortisol rises during stress -Controls digestion, immune system, mood and emotions -Sexuality -Energy storage and expenditure Sympathetic & parasympathetic systems Cognitive appraisal

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6
Q

what are characteristics of the Resistance Phase in stress?

A

Occurs when responses to stressors in the Alarm Phase did not alleviate the problem We become cranky—impatient and annoyed with trivial matters -The body starts to tire -Sleep patterns are interrupted (sleep too much or too little) -The stressed person becomes over-tired, anxious and forgetful -Resistance to illness and diseases decreases (immune system worsens)

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7
Q

what are characteristics of the Exhaustion Phase in stress?

A

Complete breakdown of physical resistance to disease and illnesses (body worn out) -High blood pressure -Heart disease -Ulcers

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8
Q

during stress what happens with the hypothalamus?

A

increases adrenaline

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9
Q

what does Selye’s general adaptation syndrome tell us about stress and our bodies resistance?

A

The body’s resistance to stress can only last so long before exhaustion sets in. phase 1: stress resistance down and then up phase 2: stress resistance moves up and slowly goes down phase 3: stress resistance goes down

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10
Q

in class we learned what about chronic stress by age?

A

goes down with age

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11
Q

what is Allostasis?

A

The multiple biological changes that allow you to adapt to stressors so your body functions within a comfortable range. Tries to keep body balances while stressed out

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12
Q

what are the difference cognitive appraisals that cause stress?

A

Primary appraisal—those things that cause immediate threat Secondary appraisal—a decision is made whether those things that cause stress can be dealt with successfully Coping

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13
Q

how can perceived control be a source of stress?

A

Learned helplessness- if we feel we can’t escape our fate we give in Predictability stress has more to do with the amount of control we perceive (if we feel we don’t have much control we won’t)

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14
Q

what are other sources of stress we learned about in class?

A

Catastrophes Life changes Internal conflict (Lewin, 1931) -Approach-approach conflict (e.g., choosing a good job and finishing college)…choose between two good things -Avoidance-avoidance conflict (e.g., staying in a bad relationship or being alone) - chosing between two bad things -Approach-avoidance conflict (e.g., should a shy guy ask his girlfriend to marry him? He wants to get married but doesn’t want to get rejected!) Life’s hassles Daily hassles Interruptions

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15
Q

what are the different types of work related factors affect stress?

A

Environmental factors -Lighting, noise, crowding -Floor plan - to many people in one space or we sit in a seat daily and then have to move Job-related factors -Demand-control model (the demands of a job and the control one has over his / her job -Air traffic controllers Burnout - give up and don’t care anymore Workplace violence Economics

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16
Q

what is hostility?

A

A personality trait characterized by mistrust, an expectation of harm and provocation by others, and a cynical attitude. stress can cause hostility and negative attitues

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17
Q

what are some important characteristics of hostility?

A

Associated with heart disease Gender differences Anger management programs

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18
Q

what did we learn in class about pessimists and heart disease?

A

increase in heart disease for those that are pessimists.

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19
Q

what did we learn in class about heart attache patients that modify their life style?

A

reduced recurrent heart attackes

20
Q

what are the different stages of sleep?

A

Stage 1(hypnogogic sleep)—drowsiness Stage 2—muscles tense and relax (45-60%) Stage 3—deep sleep Stage 4—deep sleep Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep—

21
Q

what are the key characteristics of stage 1 sleep?

A

low amplitude brain waves Easily awakened May experience hypnic jerk - twitch About 5 minutes don’t realize that you are falling sleep we can measure this with brain waves

22
Q

what are the key characteristics of stage 2 sleep?

A

Sleep spindles and high-amplitude brain waves Easily awakened Relaxed and less-responsive to environment

23
Q

what are the key characteristics of stage 3 sleep?

A

20-50% of sleep is delta sleep (Slow-wave sleep [SWS]) Heart rate and body temperature decrease Not easily wakened

24
Q

what are the key characteristics of stage 4 sleep?

A

> 50% delta sleep (SWS) Deep sleep Lowest HR, Temp, breathing rate delta sleep

25
Q

what are the key characteristics of REM sleep?

A

Brain activity similar to wakeful state Eyes moving Fast / irregular HR / respiration Muscles paralyzed Genital arousal consolidated learned muscles paralyzed - which is good so predators can’t see movement when we sleep

26
Q

what are some sleep conditions?

A

Insomnia Sleep apnea

27
Q

what are key characteristics of insomnia?

A

Caused by stress Treatments -Medications -Psychological treatments medications can cause this…or can cause us to have no REM sleep

28
Q

what are key characteristics of sleep apnea?

A

Cessation of breathing (up to 70s) and loud snoring 18 million persons affected in US Treatment -CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device -Weight loss

29
Q

what happens to the immune system when a person experiences stress?

A

Stress can suppress the production of white blood cells -B cells— –type of white blood cell (called a b-lymphocyte) that produce antibodies to fight infection and disease –develop from stem cells in the bone marrow -T cells— –Natural killer (NK) cells –Lymphocytes processed in the thymus and secrete lymphokines -Glucocorticoids and stress— –hormones used to help the body cope with acute stressors

30
Q

what are some of the healthy related issues that can arise due to stress?

A

heart disease -Stress and blood pressure -Atherosclerosis -Depression and heart disease -Anxiety and heart disease immune suppression - cancer –Immune system suppression and NK (Natural Killer) t-cells—AKA cytotoxic lymphocytes –Stress –Perception of control autonomic nervous system effects (headaches, hypertension)

31
Q

what are some behaviors that can damage our health and why do we do them?

A

Smoking Substance abuse Poor nutrition Lack of exercise Unsafe sex Driving under the influence why? Lack of knowledge Perceived risk Perceived severity Illusion of invulnerability we think we are invincible

32
Q

what are the physiological effects of nicotine?

A
  1. arrouses the brain to state of increased alertness 2. increases heart rate and blood pressure 3. at high levels, relaxes muscles and triggers the release of endorphines, natural opiates that may reduce stress 4. reduces circulation to extremities 5. suppresses the appetite for carbohydrates
33
Q

what do we know about gender and weight discrimination?

A

women are less likely to be hired if they are overweight

34
Q

what is the Stages of Change Model as it relates to addiction?

A
35
Q

how can we change our health impairing behaviors?

A

Precontemplation—”No problem, man” Contemplation—”maybe this isn’t so good” Preparation—making small changes Action—direct action (New Year’s resolution) Maintenance—continue the good behavior Relapse

36
Q

do healthcare cost tell us about longevity?

A

nothing…US spends the most and has low life expectancy

37
Q

what are some processes that encourage change in Health-Impairing Behaviors?

A

Consciousness raising - commercials and media Social liberation Emotional arousal Self-reevaluation = how do I change?

38
Q

what are some coping strategies for dealing with stress?

A

Problem-focused strategies Emotion-focused strategies Thought suppression Humor

39
Q

what are key traits in Problem-focused strategies?

A

Active coping Planning Instrumental social support Suppression of competing activities

40
Q

what are key traits in Emotion-focused strategies?

A

Emotional social support Venting emotions Positive reinterpretation/growth Behavioral disengagement Mental disengagement

41
Q

what are key traits in thought suppression strategies?

A

For the next 30 seconds, do not think of an elephant - doesn’t work well tends to make you think of the thing you don’t want to think of Rebound effect

42
Q

what are key traits in humor strategy of stress coping?

A

Immune system effects

43
Q

what do we know about aerobic exercise and depression?

A

the largest reduction of depression with aerobic exercised even over relaxation

44
Q

what are some mind-body interventions used to treat stress?

A

Hypnosis Meditation Yoga Biofeedback Visual imagery Cognitive therapy Stress management/relaxation induction Prayer Tai chi

45
Q

what does research show in the use of mind-body interventions used to treat stress?

A

Improved mood and immune response Increased lung functioning Improved control of pain Decreased stress and emotional distress Fewer subsequent heart problems

46
Q

what are some of the gender differences regarding stress?

A

women more stressed?

47
Q

what are some of the cultural contexts regarding stress?

A

Crowding Social support Nocebo effects

Intro To Psychology (14 decks)

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