Module 35 - Health and Happiness (Test 2) Flashcards
What is coping?
Alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive or behavioral methods
Problem-focused coping
Attempting to alleviate stress directly by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor
Emotion-focused coping
Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and by attending to emotional needs related to our stress reaction
Perceived loss of control
- Losing personal control provokes stress hormone output
- Rising stress hormone levels related to blood pressure increase and immune response decrease
Learned helplessness
Uncontrollable bad events » Perceived lack of control » Generalized helpless behaviour
External locus of control
- Chance or outside forces control fate
- Posttraumatic stress symptoms
Internal locus of control
- People control their own fate
- Freewill, willpower, and self-control
Self-control and its effects
- Ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for longer-term rewards
- Predicts good health, higher income, and better school performances
effects of optimism
- expect to have more control, to cope better with stressful events, and to enjoy better health
- tends to run in families
- tend to get better grades
- Respond to setbacks with more productive strategies
Social isolation leads to …
Higher loneliness and risk of death equivalent to smoking
Benefits of social support
- Calms and reduces blood pressure and stress hormones
- Fosters stronger immune functioning
- Provides an opportunity to confide painful feelings
Benefits of aerobic exercise
- Adds to quality of life
- helps fight heart disease and reduce heart attack risks
- predictor of life satisfaction
- reduces depression and anxiety
Biofeedback
Recording, amplifying, and feeding back information about subtle physiological responses (many of which are controlled by the autonomic nervous system)
- works best on tension headaches
Relaxation benefits
- helps alleviate headaches, hypertension, anxiety and insomnia
- lowers stress
- promotes better wound healing
Meditation benefits
- reduces suffering
- improves awareness, insight and compassion
Mindfulness meditation
- Relaxation and silent attendance to inner space; monitored breathing
- Linked with lessened anxiety and depression, improved sleep, interpersonal relationships and immune system functioning
Why is religious involvement beneficial?
- Promotes healthy behaviours
- Social support
- Positive emotions
Features of Positive Psychology
- feel good/ do good phenomenon
- subjective well-being
- good life that engages one’s skills; meaningful life that extends beyond one’s self
- positive traits that focus on exploring and enhancing a wide range of behaviours
- positive groups, communities and cultures
Are people in rich countries happier than people in poor countries?
Yes
Can money buy happiness?
Not really, because once there is enough money for comfort and security, more money doesn’t matter as much
Does age, gender or attractiveness affect happiness?
No
