PSYCH FINAL: CHAPTER 14 Flashcards
What is a health psychologist?
researcher who studies both positive and negative effects that human’s behaviour and decisions have on their health, survival and well being
Why do university students gain weight?
increased food intake, decreased physical activity, increased alcohol consumption
Body Mass index (BMI) is used for what?
to account for height differences
BMI definition is?
statistic commonly used for estimating a healthy body weight given an individuals height
How is BMI calculated?
by dividing the person’s weight by the square of a persons height
ex. weight is 100kg, height is 180 cm BMI = 100/1.8squared = 30.9
What is a healthy, underweight, overweight and obese BMI?
healthy is 18.5 to 24.9
underweight is less than 18.5
overweight is 25-29.9
obese is over 30
Obesity is?
a growing concern associated with numerous health consequences such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis
Why is weight gained?
positive energy balance meaning too many calories come in and not enough are expended
other factors for weight gain include?
genetics, lifestyle, social variables
Genes contribute to?
the development of a set point
what is a set point?
a hypothesized mechanism that serves to maintain body weight around a physiologically programmed level
set point is relatively?
a small range encompassing 10% to 20% of one’s weight
your initial set point is controlled by?
genetic mechanisms but your actual weight can be modified by environmental factors (what and how much you eat)
Obesity rates are affected by?
social factors including influences from one’s family
First step to psychological research to help people loose weight is?
think critically about the weight loss options that are out there and find a way to effectively motivate people to change their behaviours
Positive emotion is likely to have what?
reduced the participants stress regarding dieting which could lead to reduction in the amount of food consumed
health and weight do what together?
increase together and socioeconomic factors have numerous positive and negative effects
health problems are magnified by?
stress
Discrimination is?
a stressor that can compromise both physical and mental health and is problematic because it is often uncontrollable and unpredictable
social resilience is?
ability to keep positive relationships and to endure and recover from social isolation and life stressors which can protect them from negative health consequences of loneliness and social isolation
marriage is?
shown to have long term health benefits
what can have a large effect on our health related behaviours?
the social group(s) we belong to
what is social contagion?
the often subtle unintentional spreading of a behaviour as a result of social interactions
stress is?
a psychological and physiological reaction that occurs when perceived demands exceed resources to meet those demands
stress refers to?
both events (stressors) and experiences in response to those events (Stress response) and chronic events
these can be positive and negative on performances
appraisal refers to?
the cognitive act of assessing and evaluating the potential threat and demands of an event
1st step of appraisal is?
individual perceives a potential threat and begins the primary appraisal by asking herself is this a threat
2nd step of appraisal is?
as events unfold the secondary appraisal begins where she cops with the threat if not then stress will continue
threats can be?
physical or psychosocial
the highest stress events include?
death of a spouse and divorce
holidays and tickets are low end
almost everyone has?
individual zone of optimal functioning
what is the individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF)?
a range of emotional intensity in which he or she is most likely to perform at his or her best
stress depends on?
our mental appraisal of a situation or event
physiological response to stress occurs where?
throughout most of the body
fight or flight response is?
a set ph physiological changes that occur in response to psychological or physical threats
what is general adaptation syndrome? (GAS)
a theory of stress responses involving stages of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
Alarm reaction consists of?
your recognition of the threat and the physiological reactions that accompany it including increases in blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate and adrenaline release
resistance is
second part of response
resistance is characterized by?
an individual using his or her physical and mental resources to respond to the stressor in an appropriate way
exhaustion is?
third stage of response which occurs when the stressful experience depletes your physical resources and your physiological stress response and your ability to cope declines
what is part of the stress responses to both positive and negative events?
sweaty palms, increased heart rate and gastrointestinal sensations
in response to stress the hypothalamus does what?
stimulates the sympathetic nervous system which causes the adrenal medulla to release epinephrine and norephephrine
epinephrine and norephephrine do what?
trigger the bodily changes associated with fight or flight response
what is the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal? HPA axis?
a neural and endocrine circuit that provides communication between nervous system(hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary and adrenal glands)
when your perceive you are in a stressful situation what happenes?
hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together to stimulate the release of cortisol
cortisol is?
a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that prepares the body to response to stressful circumstances
who has a large cortisol response?
males
men vs women responses?
men is fight or flight women is social response (tend and befriend)
tend and befriends reaction may be promoted by the release of what?
oxytocin which is a stress sensitive hormone that is typically associated with maternal bonding and social relationships
What is psychoneuroimmunology?
the study of this relationship between immune system and nervous system functioning
high stress levels put people at risk for?
developing coronary heart disease
a condition in which plaques form in the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood an oxygen, resulting in restricted blood flow
Type A personality describes people
who tend to be impatient and worry about time, easily angered, competitive and highly motivated
Type B personality describes people
who are more laid back and characterized by patient, easygoing and relaxed disposition
what will dictate if you are happy with stress?
being able to cope with it
coping refers to?
processes used to manage demands, stress and conflict
coping strategies include?
problem focused coping and emotion focused coping
positive psychology uses?
scientific methods to study human strengths and potential
optimism is?
tendency to have a favourable constructive view on situation and to expect positive outcomes
pessimism is?
tendency to have a negative perception of life and expect negative outcomes
pessimistic explanatory style is?
tendency to interpret and explain negative events as internally based and as a a constant stable quality
pessimism is linked to?
negative affectivity
negative affectivity is?
tendency to response to problems with a pattern of anxiety, hostility, anger, guilt or nervousness
resilience is?
ability to effectively recover from illness or adversity
stress and trauma can also lead people to recognize what?
how strong they really are
post traumatic growth is?
capacity to grow and experience long term positive effects in response to negative events
post traumatic growth and post traumatic stress happen when?
together
biofeedback is?
a therapeutic technique involving the use pf physiological recording instruments to provide feedback that increases awareness of bodily responses
Meditation is?
any procedure that involves a shift in consciousness to a state in which an individual is highly focused, aware and in control of mental process
