Chapter 4

Question 1

Health psychology

Answer 1

The field of psychology that studies the relationship between psychological factors ( e.g. attitudes, beliefs, situational influences, and overt behavior patterns) and the prevention and treatment of physical illness.

Question 2

General adaption syndrome (GAS)

Answer 2

Selye’s term for a hypothesized three-stage response to stress.

Question 3

Alarm stage

Answer 3

The first stage of the GAS, which is “triggered” by the impact of a stressor and characterized by activity of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 4

Fight or flight reaction

Answer 4

Cannon’s term for an innate adaptive response to the perception of danger.

Question 5

Endocrine system

Answer 5

A body system involved in regulating many bodily processes and consisting of ductless glands that empty their secretions, called hormones, directly into the bloodstream.

Question 6

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 6

The part of the nervous system that regulates glands and involuntary activities such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and dilation of the pupils of the eyes.

Question 7

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 7

The division of the ANS that is most active during activities and emotional responses-such as anxiety and fear- that spend the body’s reserves of energy.

Question 8

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 8

The division of the ANS that is most active during processes that restore the body’s reserves of energy, such as digestion.

Question 9

Hypothalamus

Answer 9

A small, pea-sized structure in the brain involved in regulating many bodily processes, including hunger, sleep, emotions, and body temperature.

Question 10

Corticosteroids

Answer 10

Hormones produced by the adrenal cortex that increase resistance to stress in ways such as fighting inflammation and causing the liver to release stores of sugar.

Question 11

Hypertension

Answer 11

High blood pressure

Question 12

Hormones

Answer 12

Substances secreted by endocrine glands that regulate various body functions.

Question 13

Resistance stage

Answer 13

The second stage of the GAS, characterized by prolonged sympathetic activnity in an effort to restore lost energy and repair damage.

Question 14

Exhaustion stage

Answer 14

The third stage of the GAS, characterized by weakened resistance and possible deterioration.

Question 15

Trait anxiety

Answer 15

Anxiety as a personality variable, or persistent trait.

Question 16

State anxiety

Answer 16

A temporary condition of anxiety that may be attributed to a specific situation.

Question 17

Immune system

Answer 17

The system of the body that recognizes and destroys foreign agents (antigens) that invade the body.

Question 18

Pathogens

Answer 18

Microscopic organisms (i.e. bacteria and virus) that can cause disease.

Question 19

Leukocytes

Answer 19

White blood cells

Question 20

Antibodies

Answer 20

Substances formed by white blood cells that recognize and destroy antigens.

Question 21

Inflammation

Answer 21

Increased blood flow to an injured area of the body, resulting in redness, warmth, and increased supply of white blood cells.

Question 22

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 22

The field that studies the relationships between psychological factors (i.e. attitudes and overt behavior patterns) and the functioning of the immune system.

Question 23

Multifactorial model

Answer 23

The view that health and illness are a function of mutiple factors involving biological, psychological, and cultural domains- and their interactions.

Question 24

Migraine headache

Answer 24

A throbbing headache caused by wavelike firing of neurons on the brain, which creates ripples of neural activity that reach pain centers in the brainstem.

Question 25

Serotonin

Answer 25

A neurotransmitter, imbalances of which have been linked to mood disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and changes in appetite.

Question 26

Neurotransmitters

Answer 26

The chemical messengers in the nervous system that carry nerve signals from one nerve cell to another.

Question 27

Prostaglandins

Answer 27

Hormones that initiate pain messages and also cause muscle fibers in the uterine wall to contract, as during labor.

Question 28

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Answer 28

A cluster of physical and psychological symptoms that afflict some women prior to menstruation.

Question 29

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Answer 29

A neurotransmitter that appears to help calm anxiety reactions.

Question 30

Carcinogenic

Answer 30

Relating to an agent that gives rise to cancerous changes.

Question 31

Antigens

Answer 31

Substances that stimulates the body to mount a immune system response.

Question 31

DNA

Answer 31

Acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid, which makes up genes and chromosomes and carries genetic information from generation to generation.