psychology and health

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

an unpleasant emotional state that results from the perception of danger (aka “distress”

Question 2

stressor

Answer 2

a stimulus that serves as a source of stress

-In other words, when bad things happen (stressors), you may or may not experience the emotional experience of stress.

Question 3

General adaption syndrome

Answer 3

-what happens when you experience a stressor
-stage 1: alarm
>our fight-flight-freeze reaction (increased sympathetic nervous system activity) the immediate response.
-stage 2: resistance
>if the stressor is continuing, then there is a need to cope with the stressor
-stage 3: exhaustion
>If the stressor still continues, exhaustion occurs. Psychological and physical exhaustion. This can be bad enough to lead to psychological and physical health problems.

Question 4

stress if bad for you

Answer 4

-high levels of stress lead to hormonal dysregulation in the body, having many effects 
>higher blood pressure 
>impaired immune system response 
>can re-activate dormant viruses 
>increases risk for cancers

Question 5

coping

Answer 5

The scientific literature on coping is enormous and has identified numerous different types of coping. However, this literature has also demonstrated that when thinking about coping, the specific coping style doesn’t matter as much as the overarching type:

Question 6

type of coping

Answer 6

• problem-focused coping=addressing specific problems by finding solutions
• emotion-focused= addressing the negative emotions that arise from situations
• relationship-focused= addressing the maintenance and protect of social relationships, but also seeking support from these relationships (also known as “social support”)

Question 7

what kind of coping is best

Answer 7

-generally, problem-focused coping tends to be associated with the best outcomes, both in terms of the individuals emotions and successful resolution of the problem
-however that can depend on the specific situation
>when a stressor is controllable, problem-focused coping is best
>when a stressor is not controllable, emotion-focused coping can be better

Question 8

healthy people are happier peoples

Answer 8

true, its not just that your psyche influences your body, the opposite is true to.
>people who exercise more are generally healthier, and can handle stress more effectively
>a healthy diet can also improve your mood