Men/Phy Health Part 1 Flashcards
Health Psychology
subfield of psychology that focuses on how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness.
particular interest in:
effects of stress
coping strategies
What is stress?
psychological and physiological response to perceived challenges or threats.
acute (right now)
chronic (ongoing)
Why are we concerned with chronic stress?
while short-term stress may be adaptive (fight or flight),
long-term stress can contribute to :
Hyptertension
Immune Suppression
Hypertension
high blood pressure
Immune Suppresion
the body becomes more susceptible to disease
What causes stress?
Stressors: external or internal events or conditions that cause stress.
enviornmental factors
life events
personal challenges
Eustress
Eustress:
positive form of stress
motivates and energizes
challenges are manageable
Distress
Distress:
negative form of stress
impairs performance
challenges are overwhelming
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years)
can have long-term effects on health, behavior, and life potential.
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
model that describes the body’s response to stress
explains how the body reacts to prolonged or intense stressors, and how chronic stress can impact health.
Alarm Phase
initial phase of GAS, where the body perceives a stressor and activates the fight-or-flight response.
Resistance Phase
body attempts to cope with ongoing stressor; physiological responses stabilize, but energy resources still being depleted.
Exhaustion Phase
body’s resources are depleted, leading to physical/mental exhaustion and increasing the risk of illness and burnout.
Fight/Flight/Freeze Response
perceived threat prompts the body to prepare to:
confront
escape
be still
changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and energy levels
Tend-and-Befriend Theory
suggests that in response to stress, females are more likely to nurture (tending) and socially bond (befriending) in order to cope
this theory is in contrast to the more male oriented fight-or-flight theory.
Problem-Focused Coping
individuals attempt to manage or alter the stressful situation directly by addressing the problem itself.
change the stressor
manage it more effectively
Emotion-Focused Coping
individuals focus on managing their emotional response to the stressor rather than attempting to change the situation itself.
Positive Psychology
the study and promotion of positive aspects of human life, such as happiness, well-being, personal strengths, and resilience.
Well-being
broad term that encompasses the overall state of an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical health.
positive emotions
satisfaction with life
sense of purpose
Gratitude
positive emotion or attitude that involves recognizing and appreciating the good things in life (big or small)
has been linked to:
increased happiness
better relationships
improved health.
Subjective Well-being
person’s self-assessment of their own happiness and life satisfaction.
Important Point! Subjective means according to one’s own perception.
Character Virtues
positive traits or qualities that are valued in individuals and contribute to their moral and ethical character.
Wisdom
Courage
Humanity
Justice
Temperance
Transcendence
Signature Strengths
unique personal traits/strengths that people possess and naturally use in their everyday life.
use of signature strengths in life is associated with higher levels of well-being and fulfillment
Resilience
ability to adapt to and recover from adversity, trauma, or significant sources of stress.
linked to traits such as:
emotional regulation
optimism
social connection
Posttraumatic Growth
positive psychological change that occurs as a result of struggling with highly challenging or traumatic events.
Posttraumatic Growth vs. Resilience
resilience describes a return to a baseline level of functioning
posttraumatic growth describes improved functioning.
What is Abnormal Psychology?
branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought that may indicate a mental disorder
Societal Norms
shared beliefs, values, and behaviors that are considered acceptable in a particular culture or society
Psychological Disorders
mental health conditions that involve significant disturbances in an individual’s thoughts, emotions, behavior, or functioning.
Deviance
differing from social norms
Dysfunction
interfering with daily life
Distress
upsetting to the individual
Danger
creating risk to self or others
DSM-5
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA)
International Classification of Mental Disorders (ICD)
global classification system developed by the World Health Organization to categorize and diagnose psychological disorders
the DSM is used by U.S. clinicians
the ICD allows sharing of information globally
Stigma
negative attitudes, beliefs, or stereotypes about individuals with psychological disorders.
public stigma: people with mental illness are dangerous, incompetent, and at fault
self stigma: i am dangerous, at fault, incompetent
Discrimination
unfair/unequal treatment of individuals based on characteristics such as race, sex, and age.
can influence how individuals with psychological disorders are perceived & treated
Psychological Perspective
a specific way of observing and understanding human behavior
can influence how disorders are explained and treated
seven major perspectives
each with differing explanations for disorders
Psychodynamic Perspective
emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and internal conflicts in shaping behavior and personality.
Disorders are a result of unresolved unconscious conflicts
Treatment uses therapy to expose and resolve these conflicts
Behavioral Perspective
emphasizes the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior
Disorders are a result of maladaptive learned associations
Treatment seeks to counter the effects of conditioning to change behavior
Humanistic Perspective
emphasizes individual growth, self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of humans.
Disorders are the result of unmet needs and interrupted development
Treatment focuses on social and emotional growth; emphasizes unconditional positive regard and self-actualization
Biological Perspective
focuses on the role of the brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics in influencing behavior
Disorders are a result of chemical imbalances or brain abnormalities
Treatment involves drug therapies or stimulation of the brain
Cognitive Perspective
emphasizes the role of thoughts in shaping emotional experiences and actions
Disorders are the result of distorted patterns of thought and belief
Treatment uses therapy to identify, challenge, and modify negative thought patterns
Sociocultural Perspective
emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors on behavior and mental processes.
Disorders are influenced by poverty, discrimination, and life events
Treatment focuses on cultural awareness, addressing stigma, and using culturally-competent therapy
Evolutionary Perspective
examines how natural selection and genetic inheritance have shaped human behaviors
Disorders may be a result of an evolutionary mismatch between our bodies’ design and our modern environment
Eclectic Approach
diagnostic and therapeutic approach that combines elements from different psychological theories and practices.
the most effective techniques are used from multiple perspectives
Biopsychosocial Model
suggests that mental health and behavior are influenced by the dynamic interaction of factors:
genetic/neurological
psychological
environmental
Diathesis-Stress Model
explains disorders by emphasizing the interaction between:
Predisposition (vulnerability) to a certain condition
Stressful life events
