Chapter 15 Flashcards
stress
our response to events that disturb, or threaten to disturb, our physical or psychological equilibrium
stressors
external or internal events that challenge or threaten us
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
Selye’s model of stress, in which an event that threatens an organism’s well-being leads to a three-stage bodily response: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
Psycho-physiological disorders
physical conditions, such as high blood pressure and migraine headaches, that are caused or aggravated by psychological factors such as stress
Immune System
a complex surveillance system of specialized cells, tissues, and organs that is the body’s primary defense against disease
Psychoneuorimmunology
the interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between psychological factors and physical illness
problem-focused coping
a coping strategy designed to reduce the stress by overcoming the source of the problem
emotion-focused coping
a coping strategy designed to manage emotional reactions to stressors rather than to trying to change the stressors themselves
Examples of problem-focused coping
confronting, planful problem solving, and seeking social support
Examples of emotion-focused coping
distancing, self-controlling, escape/avoidance, positive reappraisal, and accepting responsibility
One of the most important factors moderating the relationship between stress and illness
perceived control
Type A behavior pattern
a complex pattern of behaviors and emotions characterized by competitiveness, impatience, ambition, hostility, and a hard-driving approach to life
Type B behavior pattern
A patten behaviors and emotions characterized by a patient, relaxed, easygoing approach to life with little hurry or hostility
hardiness
a set of personality traits marked by a sense of commitment, challenge, and control that promotes resistance to stress and illness
pessimistic explanatory style
the habitual tendency to explain uncontrollable negative events as caused by one’s own stable personal qualities, which affect all aspects of one’s life
Optimistic explanatory style
the habitual tendency to explain uncontrollable negative events as caused by temporary factors external to oneself that do not affect other aspects of one’s life
social support
the helpful coping resources provided by friends and other people
Obesity
the excessive accumulation of body fat; medically, a body mass index
Anorexia nervosa
an eating disorder in which a person weighs less than 85% of his or her expected weight but still expresses an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
Bulimia
an eating disorder in which a person engages in recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by drastic measures to purge the body of the consumed calories
Aerobic exercise
sustained exercise that increases heart and lung fitness
progressive relaxation
a stress-reducing technique that involves the successive tensing and relaxing of rach of the major muscle groups of the body
