Chapter 14 Flashcards
biopsychosocial model
argues that physical illnesses are not only caused by biological factors, but also psychosocial factors
health psychology
concerned with:
- how psychosocial factors relate to the promotion and maintenance of health and with the causation, prevention, and treatment of illness
stress
- a natural human response
- state of worry caused by a difficult situation or perceived threat
3 types of stressors
- microstressors
- catastrophic events
- major negative events
primary appraisal
- interpretation of demands of the situation
“what do i have do to?”
secondary appraisal
- analysis of resources available to cope
“how can i deal with this situation?”
acute stressors
threatening events that have a relatively short duration and a clear endpoint
ex: exam, traffic jam, flooded basement
chronic stressors
threatening events that have a relatively long duration and no clear endpoint
ex: money problems, bad boss
4 major types of stress
frustration, conflict, change, pressure
stress: frustration
occurs in any situation in which the pursuit of some goal is blocked (fail exam, traffic)
stress: conflict
occurs when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioural impulses compete for expression
stress: change
any noticeable alterations in one’s living environment that require readjustment
Social Readjustment Rating Scale
a test that scores level of stress - high # = high stress, greater physical and psychological problems
stress: pressure
expectations or demands that one behave in a certain way
pressure to perform
you’re expected to execute tasks successfully and efficiently
pressure to conform
you’re expected to meet standards others have set for you
3 stress reactions
1.) emotional
2.) physiological
3.) behavioural
emotional stress reaction
- annoyance, anger
- anxiety, fear
- grief, sadness
- positive emotions after the fact
effect of emotional arousal on performance
→ high arousal = simple task
→ medium arousal = medium task
→ low arousal = complex task
physiological stress reaction
- fight or flight response
- two brain body pathways
- general adaptation syndrome
general adaptation syndrome
A model of the body’s stress response, consisting of three phases:
1.) Alarm = activation of sympathetic nervous system (“fight-or-flight”, physiological response)
2.) Resistance = body begins to repair itself, physiological changes stabilize as coping efforts get under way
3.) Exhaustion = body’s resources may be depleted
behavioural stress response
- learned helplessness
- aggression/lash out
- self-indulgence
- defense mechanisms
- constructive coping (emotion or problem focused)
effects of stress on psychological functioning
- impaired task performance and burnout
- psychological problems; PTSD, depression
- psychosomatic diseases
- heart disease
- immune functioning
personality risk factor for heart disease
people with type A personality have increased risk factor for heart disease because they are competitiveness, impatient and angry/hostile which increases stress