Exam 4 Flashcards
Stress response
The reaction to some kind of stressor (involves internal/external adaptation by an individual)
Primary appraisal
Stress
Evaluation of how (potentially) harmful a particular situation is
Secondary appraisal
Stress
Evaluation of whether the individual possesses the resources to successfully face the demands of the situation
3 Stressors positive effects
- Momentary stress can mobilize immune system to fend off infections and heal wounds
- Arouses us and motivates us to conquer problems
- Experiencing some stress builds resilience, personal strength to cope and recover
Stressors negative effects
- More vulnerable to colds
- Can catch disease faster or lead to a faster decline
(Stress increases spread of cancer, increases vulnerability to heart disease) - Decreased immune function in response to grief
(First time a connection b/t grief and immune function was demonstrated.
Also proves to divorce.) - Surgical wounds heal more slowly
- Inflammation
More trauma people experience→bodies generate inflammation→heart problems, asthma, and other health problems
More prone to inflammation if they experience social threats (including harshly raised children) - Stress of caring for someone with a chronic illness delays wound recovery
- Pregnant women with overactive stress systems have shorter pregnancies (more health risks for infants)
Stress Response system
Walter Cannon
Fight or Flight Response: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress (increased heart rate, redirected blood flow, pain suppression).
(Sympathetic nervous system helps more with immediate threats than distant threats (long term))
Stress response system
General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
3 phases:
Alarm reaction
Resistance
Exhaustion
Alarm reaction - General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
First reaction to stressor. Sympathetic nervous system is activated. Any resistance stops.
Resistance - General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
Second phase.
Symptoms remain high.
If you are in the presence of a stressor too long→body/individual adapts to the stressor→inc resistance occurs→ reactions/symptoms disappear.
Exhaustion - General Adaptation Syndrome - Hans Selye
Third phase.
Long-continued exposure versus down body’s resistance. Adaptation energy is exhausted, alarm reaction signs reappear
Susceptible to illness, individual can eventually die
Immune system is in the ____ nervous system.
Parasympathetic
Immune system consists of
Lymphocytes (Specialized WBC)
Natural killer cells (NK cells): Attack diseases
Macrophages: Destroy worn-out cells
How immune function is measured
3 ways
- Blood sample & count WBC
(Healthier has more WBC) - Add cancer cells to blood sample and measure NK activity
-
Challenge system and record response (not sample blood, just on actual body)
Ex: Allergy test
Underreacting immune system
Immune system may allow bacterial infections to flare, dormant virus to erupt, or cancer cells to multiply
Overreacting immune system
____ are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
Immune system may attack the body. Allergic reaction, other self-attacking autoimmune diseases (lupus, multiple sclerosis)
Women (even though more immunologically stronger) are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases
Daily life events is related to antibody levels
Good things in lives=higher antibody levels, improvement in immune system functions
Bad things in lives=lower antibody levels, deprovement in immune system functions
Environmental + Stress factors
People who are stressed engage in behaviors that compromise immune function
Might not eat as well when stressed
Might not exercise when stressed
Increasing infectious disease-related deaths
Type A Personality
- Demonstrates competitive orientation towards achievement
- Sense of urgency about time
- Strong tendency to feel anger and hostility
Mainly the anger that leaders to greater risk of cardiac events - Greater risk of cardiac events
Bc their sympathetic nervous system is normally activated→blood redistributed to skeletal muscles (aka blood pulled AWAY from internal organs) →liver (normally removes cholesterol and fat) can’t do its job→Excess cholesterol and fat in blood→ get deposited around heart
Type B Personality
- Demonstrates relatively low levels of competitiveness
- Not as urgent about time
- Not hostile
- Avg risk cardiac events
Phony Type B’s
- Appear to be type B’s but underneath are competitive, tense, hostile, and troubled
- Greatest risk of cardiac events
Types of personality
Type A
Type B
Phony Type Bs
Personality - Depression effects
Heart problems
Smoke
Supressing emotions
Cancer
- People age fast and die sooner
- 2x likely to be dead in the following 5 yrs
- More likely to develop heart problem or have heart attack
- More likely to smoke more and exercise less
- Suppressing negative emotions increases depression, relationship problems, health risks
- Treating depression in those with cancer can improve quality of life but doesn’t inc survival rate
Emotional ups and downs
Days of the week
- Most to least positive days, friday saturday sunday thursday monday tuesday wednesday worst
One day
- Positive emotion rises from early morning to middle of day, then decreases. Positive emotions inc again at end of day
Awful events like grief take longer to heal
Money and happiness
National wealth
Personal income
Economic growth
Inequality
National wealth matters - people in countries where a majority of the people have secure livelihood are normally happier than those in poor countries
Personal income matters (up to a point) - Having enough money to eat, feel control, and treat yourself makes you happier. Power of more money to increase happiness is strongest at low incomes (Ex: $2000 means more to a person w 20k income than someone with 200k income)
Economic growth in countries hasn’t inc happiness
Extreme inequality leads to unhappiness
Adaptation level phenomenon
Forming judgments relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience
Happiness is relative
Relative deprivation
Perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves
- Believing others are better than us makes us feel worse
Happiness is relative
Pessimism
_ more likely to develop heart disease
Attribute poor performance
Genes
- 2x more likely than optimists to develop heart disease
- Attribute poor performance to their lack of ability (“I can’t do this”) or situations beyond their control (“there’s nothing I can do”)
- Genetic but can learn to be optimist
Pessimists are ____ more likely than optimists to develop heart disease.
2x
Optimism
____ control than pessimist
Physical
Mental
Grades
Relationships
Genetic
- Expect more control than pessimists
- Less fatigue, fewer coughs, aches, and pains during finals
- Better moods, stronger immune systems
- Better grades because they respond to setbacks with a hopeful attitude that they can improve
- Relationships - more supportive and satisfied
- Genetic but can learn to be pessimist
Benefits of anger
- Communicates strength and competence
- Motivates people to be courageous and achieve goals
- Can be good if you express you are upset in a way that promotes reconciliation
Catharsis
The idea that releasing aggressive energy relieves aggressive urges
Can be temporarily calming, but rarely provides full relief
Sometimes can magnify anger (lead to more anger)
How to decrease anger
3 ways
Wait
Find healthy distraction (Exercise, reading, talking it through)
Distance yourself
Stressors
3 types
- Catastrophes
- Significant life changes
- Daily hassles and Social stress
Approach/approach situations
- Choosing between two good options
- Least stressful
Avoidance/avoidance situations
- Choosing between two bad options
Clean bathroom vs doing dishes
Approach/avoidance situations
- Choosing between one good and one bad option
Choosing to go to game but then you won’t have time for homework
Police Shootings
Effects school
PTSD
Illness
Over 300 black men and women were killed by police officers, more than ¼ were unarmed.
When a police shooting happens the grades and GPAs of students of color in that community decrease
Symptoms of PTSD are associated with more contacts with the police
Greater rates of illness in minority populations as a consequence of police shootings
Hardiness - Stress
- A sense of commitment (Feel like you’re part of a community) rather than alienation (isolated from others)
- Sense of control over life rather than powerlessness
- When people see problems as challenges rather than threats
Control - Stress
Stress hormone levels rise
Bp inc
Immune responses drop
Internal locus of control
Definition
Health effects
Behavior
Belief that our behavior/actions make a difference in the world
- Persevere more
- Less likely to be obese
- Lower bp
- “Free will” Behave more helpfully, learn better, persist, perform better
People who believe in free will will lead to greater job satisfaction
External locus of control
Belief that our behavior/actions make a DON’T difference in the world
- Give up more easily
- Believe fate controls them
- More likely to be depressed
- More likely to have PTSD after a traumatic event
More and more people are becoming external locus of control
Learned helplessness
Hopelessness people learn when they experience a series of events they were unable to avoid and control
Dogs strapped in harness received shocks. Later when receiving no shocks, didn’t try to run away because they learned helplessness
______ of the population will have a psychological disorder in their life
1/2
50%
_______ of adults suffer from a diagnosable disorder in any given year
1/4
25%
_______ of children suffer from a diagnosable disorder in any given year
1/5
20%
Types of stress response systems
Fight or flight Walter Cannon
General adaptation syndrome Hans Selye
Natural killer cells (NK cells)
Attack diseases
Macrophages
Destroy worn-out cells
Feel-good, do-good phenomenon
Happy people are more likely to help others.
Social Support and Stress
Improves sleep, reduces BP, boosts immune function.
Loneliness: Associated with higher rates of illness, poor sleep, and premature death (45% increase in death rate).
Close relationships lead to longer life expectancy.
Facebook and social support
Social support on Facebook is linked to declining well-being in young adults.
Problem-focused Coping
Directly addressing the issue
When there is a sense of control over the situation.
Emotion-focused Coping
Focusing on emotional relief
When there is no control over the situation.
Negative Coping Methods:
Withdrawal or isolation from others.
Tend-and-befriend
Providing and seeking support, especially common in women under stress.
Mindfulness Meditation
Reduces stress, enhances immune function, and promotes positive mood.
Exercise for Stress Coping
Aerobic exercise (3-4 times/week for 20-30 minutes) improves heart health, lowers BP, and reduces stress.
Strengthens the heart, improves blood flow, and reduces stress. Adds 7 hours to life for every 1 hour spent exercising.
Faith and Religion for Stress
Religious participation is associated with better health, fewer hospital visits, and lower stress hormone levels.
Impact of Chronic Stress
Increases susceptibility to diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Stressful experiences lead to higher inflammatory responses, which are linked to many health issues, including heart disease and asthma.
Stress affects wound recovery and immune function, especially when caring for someone with a chronic illness.
Characteristic of psychological disorders
Abnormal - Deviated from norm
Maladaptive - Behavior that is Disruptive
Personal Distress
Theoretical Explanations for Why Disorders Occur
4 theories
Biopsychosocial Perspective
Diathesis-Stress Model
Medical Model
Thomas Szaz
Biopsychosocial Theory for Why Disorders Occur
Disorders arise from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Diathesis-Stress Model
Proposes that mental disorders are the result of underlying predispositions (diathesis) combined with environmental stressors.
Genes + environ
Medical Model for Why Disorders Occur
Disorders are viewed as diseases with biological origins, potentially treatable through medication or medical intervention.
Thomas Szaz
Argued that mental illness is a societal construct and that labeling people as “mentally ill” often reflects societal disapproval rather than a true medical condition.
Psychological approach to Why Disorders Occur
Psychological disorders are a result of past/present life experiences and the way we think
Experiences + cognitive
Sociocultural approach to Why Disorders Occur
Definition
Men vs women
Diff cultures
Only _ disorders occur worldwide _
Says to understand disorder you need to understand culture that it is in
Only two disorders occur worldwide: Major depressive disorder, schizophrenia
Symptoms can be diff b/t societies
Some societies have disorders that are not present in other societies
- Windigo is seen in Native Americans where they had a fear to turn into a cannibal monster
- Taijin kyofusho in japan where they have social anxiety about physical appearance and readiness to blush
- Anorexia and bulimia occur mostly in food-abundant western cultures
Psychological disorders more common in men vs women
- Women more likely to have anxiety and depression
- Men more likely to have substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder
- No difference b/t gender in prevalence of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Psychological disorders more common in men vs women
- Women more likely to have anxiety and depression
- Men more likely to have substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder
- No difference b/t gender in prevalence of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Only two disorders occur worldwide…
Major depressive disorder, schizophrenia
Interactionist approach Why Disorders Occur
Many factors cause mental illness.
Vulnerability-stress model
Assumes individual dispositions + environmental stressors = Psych disorder
Epigenetic supports this bc shows how a gene may be expressed in one environ but not another
________ Americans receive some form of outpatient mental health therapy
1/5
20%
Historical perspective Treatment Disorders
Trephining: Drilled holes in skull to release “spirits” from head
Greeks believed psychological disorders were a result of imbalance in 4 humors.
Insane asylums
St. Mary’s of Bethlehem
End of the 1700s moral therapy movement Philippe Pinel unshackles inmates at an insane asylum. Wanted to talk to people to help with their psychological disorders.
Beginning of a more human approach to treating distressed people
Deinstitutionalization→Inc homelessness and incarceration
Psychosurgery
Removing sections of brain tissue to try and treat a psychological disorder
Lobotomy as treatment for schizo
Most drastic biomedical intervention bc effects are irreversible
Brain stimulation
4 types
Electroconvulsive therapy
Transcranial electrical stimulation
Magnetic stimulation
Deep brain stimulation
Electroconvulsive therapy
Using electric shock to induce a seizure and help someone recover from a psychological disorder (usually depression)
Mood boost may not last long
Even though relapses are fewer than after meds or exercise therapy, it still is very common
Transcranial electrical stimulation
Weaker current
Still effective
Magnetic stimulation
On wide awake patients over several weeks
Mixed results
Deep brain stimulation
Stimulates neural area in brain that bridges thinking frontal lobe and limbic system
That ares is usually overactive in the brain of depressed people so the current helps calm it
Antipsychotic drugs
Used to treat schizo and other forms of severe thought disorders.
Help positive symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia)
Powerful side effects
Antianxiety drugs
Drugs used to control anxiety and agitation.
Depress CNS activity
Antidepressant drugs
Drugs used to treat depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD.
Side effects
Take a long time to kick in
Those at risk of suicide→take faster acting antidepressants
Only ____ disorders occur worldwide: ____ and ____
Only two disorders occur worldwide: Major depressive disorder, schizophrenia
____ are often released to help fight viral infections.
T lymphocytes
Evolutionary anorexia
Individuals who are able to survive on lesser amounts of food and thus be more likely to survive during times of famine and scarce resources.
The DSM-5 has culturally related features of disorders.
False.
DSM stands for
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Counterfactual thinking
Mental process of imagining alternative scenarios and outcomes that could have happened, but didn’t.
Catatonia
Abnormal movements, behavior, and speech.
