Health and Stress

Question 1

What is health psychology?

Answer 1

Field of health that studies psychological influences on how ppl stay healthy, why they get sick, how they respond when sick

Question 2

What is the biomedical model?

Answer 2

The view in modern medicine that claims that illness is only related to biological factors

Question 3

What is biopsychosocial model?

Answer 3

Looks at biological social and psychosocial factors

Question 4

What is the General Adaptation Syndrome theory?

Answer 4

The theory that stress follows a predictable sequence of reactions when we experience stress

Question 5

What are the stages of General Adaptation Syndrome?

Answer 5

1) Alarm stage: emotional arousal and defensive forces of body ready to fight or flight
2) Resistance stage: intense physiological efforts to resist or adapt to stressor
3) Exhaustion stage: occurs if organism fails to resist stressor

Question 6

What’s one problem with the General Adaptation Syndrome theory?

Answer 6

It does not have a cognitive factor

Question 7

What is the Cognitive Appraisal Theory?

Answer 7

The theory that the stressor itself wasn’t the cause of stress. It’s the perception of the stressor

Question 8

What are the 2 appraisals in the Cognitive Appraisal Theory?

Answer 8

Primary appraisal: person evaluates event as positive, negative, or neutral. Negative appraisal can include harm, loss, threat, challenge
Secondary Appraisal: if situation is judged to be in person’s control. They evaluate coping resources, and considers options in dealing with the stressor

Question 9

What is the stress response in the Cognitive Appraisal Theory?

Answer 9

Physiological: arousal/hormones
Emotional: anxiety, fear, grief
Behavioral: coping behaviors

Question 10

What is approach-approach conflict?

Answer 10

a conflict arising from choosing b/n desirable alternatives ie. restaurant vs movie

Question 11

What is avoidance-avoidance conflict?

Answer 11

conflict arising from having to choose b/n equally shitty alternatives ie. studying for exam vs failing

Question 12

What is approach-avoidance conflict?

Answer 12

Having to choose b/n 2 choices that have both desirable and undesirable features. You love’em and hate’em
ie. trip w/friends don’t wanna spend money

Question 13

What is problem focused coping?

Answer 13

Coping response aimed at reducing, modifying, taking away source of stress. You’re dealing w/problem directly
ie. removing yourself from situation, seeking professional help, acting to lessen threat

Question 14

What is emotion focused coping?

Answer 14

Coping response aimed at reducing emotional distress caused by stressor. ie. reframe stressor as a challenge than a threat. Denial, wishful thinking, humor, relaxation, overeating, alcohol

Question 15

What is the social readjustment rating scale?

Answer 15

A scale to evaluate different types of life stress

Question 16

What is the problem with the social readjustment rating scale?

Answer 16

It fails to consider whether a stressful event is welcome or not ie. divorce may be more stressful if it’s a shock vs expected and welcomed

Question 17

What is a hassle?

Answer 17

Little stressors that include annoying demands and troubled relationships that are encountered

Question 18

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

Answer 18

Field where psychologists, biologists, and medical researchers study effects of psychological factors on immune system

Question 19

What is psychological hardiness?

Answer 19

Commitment to personal goals, sense of control over one’s life, and tendency to view change as a challenge than a threat

Question 20

What are the 3 personal factors associated w/ health and resistance to stress?

Answer 20

1) optimism
2) psychological hardiness
3) social support