test 5 Flashcards
Health Psychology
Investigation of the psychological factors related to wellness and illness. Includes prevention, diagnosis and treatment of medical problems such as stress and heart disease
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI
The study of the relationship between psychological factors, the immune system, and the brain. Lead to discoveries such as the relationship between emotional state and immune system success.
Stress
A person’s response to events that are threatening or challenging. Both positive and negative events can cause this.
Cataclysmic stressors
Strong stressors that occur suddenly and typically effect many people simultaneously. Rate of stress correlates to closure of event (people get over natural disasters faster than terrorism)
Personal stressors?
Major life events such as the death of a parent or spouse, loss of a job, a major personal failure, and even positive events such as getting married. Typically produces an immediate major reaction that tapers off soon and over time.
Background stressors
Daily hassles. Everyday annoyances, such as being stuck in traffic, that cause minor irritations and may have long term ill-effects if they are continued or compounded by other stressful events (standing in line)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD
A phenomenon in which victims of major catastrophes or strong personal stressors feel long lasting effects that may include re-experiencing the event in vivid flashbacks or dreams.
Learned helplessness
A state in which people conclude that unpleasant or aversive stimuli cannot be controlled: A view of the world that becomes so ingrained that they cease trying to remedy the aversive circumstances, even if they actually can exert some influence. This leads to experience of more physical symptoms and depression
Psychophysiological disorders
Medical problems influenced by an interaction of psychological, emotional, and physical difficulties. These include high blood pressure, backaches, skin rashes, indigestion, fatigue and constipation)
Uplifts
The opposite of personal stressors. Minor positive events that make us feel good, even if only temporary. (Relating to someone, liking surroundings.
General adaptation syndrome (GAS)?
This suggests that the physiological response to stress follows the same pattern regardless of the cause of stress.
GAS: Alarm and Mobilization
First stage of GAS. Occur when people become aware of a stressor (failing an exam). The sympathetic nervous system becomes energized, helping a person cope with stressors.
GAS: Resistance
The second stage of GAS, if the stressor persists. The body is actively fighting the stressor. The person employs a variety of means to help cope with the stressor- sometimes successfully, but at the cost of physical or psychological wellbeing (Extra hours studying).
GAS: Exhaustion
The 3rd stage of GAS, if the stressor continues. The person’s ability to fight the stressor declines to the point where negative consequences of stress appear (inability to concentrate, heightened irritability, disorientation, or sometimes loss of touch with reality. Sometime allows escape of the stressor to regroup.
Coping
The efforts to control, reduce, or learn how to tolerate threats that lead to stress.
Emotion-focused coping
Used for unchangeable situations. Trying to manage emotions in the face of stress by seeking to change the way one feels about or perceives a problem (looking at the bright side). A good and effective method.
Problem-focused coping
Used for changeable situations. Attempting to modify the source of the stress. Leads to a change in behavior, or development of a plan of action. (forming a study group)
Avoidant coping
Using wishful thinking to reduce stress, or using escape routes like drugs, alcohol or overeating. Results in postponement or worsening of the situation.
Moderate stress and value to the person
Stress-free people have comparable sense of well-being as those with adverse stress. The highest sense of well-being was among groups with mid-level stress in life. They become resilient and use coping skills.
Hardiness
A personality characteristic associated with a lower rate of stress-related illness
Commitment
A component of hardiness. A tenancy to throw oneself into whatever activity they are doing with a sense of importance and meaningfulness in the activity.
Challenge
A component of hardiness. The belief that change, as opposed to stability, is the standard condition of life. Anticipation of change is an incentive rather than a threat to security.
Control
A component of hardiness. The perception that people can influence the events in their life.
Social supporters and effects on others
The knowledge that we are part of a mutual network of caring interest in others. Leads to experience in lower levels of stress and better coping abilities.
Effects of attending religious service
Illustrates importance of social support. Provides health related benefits and leads to longevity.
Type “A” traits
A cluster of behaviors involving hostility, competitiveness, time urgency and feeling driven. People like this develop coronary heart disease twice as often and suffer more fatal heart attacks. (research done on men only)
Type “B” traits
Characterized by a patient, cooperative, noncompetitive, and nonaggressive manner. Less coronary heart disease and fatal heart attacks.
Type “D” traits
Distressed behavior. Characterized by insecurity, anxiety, and an overall negative outlook. They put themselves at risk for repeated heart attacks.
Factors that influence smoking
There is a hereditary and genetic link, but it is primarily environmental factors that contribute to picking up the habit. Seeing it as “cool”, rebellious, or calming leads to it. Greater media exposure increases the risk. Self-identity as a smoker and physiological dependence contribute to continuing the habit. Smokers smoke to regulate emotions and nicotine levels in the blood.
Effects of Zyban and Chantix
Drugs that, instead of replacing nicotine, reduce the pleasure of smoking and mitigate withdrawal symptoms of smokers trying to quit.
Smoking in the US vs. abroad
Declining rates in high school smoking, which is leveling off. Leads US manufacturers to target other countries. In Latin America, as many as 50% of teenagers smoke. Children in Hong Kong smoke as young as 7. India, Ghana, Jamaica, and Poland; 30% of children smoked their first cigarette by age 10
Abnormal behavior
Behavior that causes people to experience distress and prevents them from functioning in their daily lives. A broad definition, to be seen as a continuum.
Abnormalities as a deviation from the average
1 of 5 ways of looking at abnormality. Contrasting behaviors that are rare or infrequent compared to social or cultural norms. Insufficient definition; high IQ falls into this category
Abnormality as a deviation from the ideal
1 of 5 ways of looking at abnormality. Considers abnormality in relation to a standard of which most people are striving. Society has few universally agreeable standards, and even these are subject to change
Abnormality as a sense of personal discomfort
1 of 5 ways of looking at abnormality. A more useful approach that focuses on the psychological consequences of the behavior for the individual or others. However, people might feel well-being while observing/exhibiting bizarre behavior.
Abnormality as the inability to function effectively
1 of 5 ways of looking at abnormality. When someone is unable to adjust to the demands of society and function effectively. A homeless person may be considered abnormal, even if they chose to live that way.
Abnormality as a legal concept
1 of 5 ways of looking at abnormality. A purely legal concept, often changing between jurisdictions, and sometimes inadmissible.
Insanity, as a term
The legal term for abnormal behavior.
Medical perspective
Fundamental causes of abnormal behavior are found through physical examination, such as hormonal imbalances, chemical deficiency, or brain injury. Associated with terms like “illness”, “symptoms”, and “mental hospitals”. However, there are often no biological causes.
Psychoanalytic perspective
The view that abnormal behavior stems from childhood conflicts over opposing wishes regarding sex aggression. Difficult to prove, but theoretically significant.
Behavioral perspective
Views behaviors themselves, rather than symptoms, as the problem. Normal and abnormal behaviors are responses to stimuli, learned through past experience (conditioning). A highly objective and useful method, yet it ignores the rich inner world of thoughts, attitudes, and emotions.
Cognitive perspective
Rather than considering only external behavior, this assumes that people’s thoughts and beliefs are central to abnormal behavior. It holds that people can find a more adaptive way of framing beliefs, even in the most negative circumstances.
Humanistic perspective
Emphasizes people’s responsibility for their own behavior, even when it is abnormal. Views people as basically rational, oriented toward a social world, and motivated to seek self-actualization. Argues people can choose what behavior is normal for themselves, if it doesn’t interfere with others. Criticized as unscientific, unverifiable, and vague (almost philosophical).
Sociocultural perspective
Holds that people’s behavior is a product of their environment. Poverty and prejudice may be the root of abnormal behavior, which daily stress can maintain. Supported by different prevalent disorders among ethnicities, and poor economic ties being linked to increased disorders. Offers very little specific guidance.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM IV-TR )(DSM 5); what it offers, does and doesn’t do
Comprehensive and precise definitions of over 200 disorders in 17 categories, including 5 axes of information to be considered in assessment. It is primarily descriptive and avoids suggesting underlying causes of behavior. Allows for communication, classification and conceptual shorthand. Can be conned, leading to misdiagnosis. May rely too much on the medical perspective.
Clinical disorders
Axis 1 of DSM. Disorders that produce distress and impair functioning
Personality disorders and mental retardation
Axis 2 of DSM. Enduring, rigid behavior patterns.
General medical conditions
Axis 3 of DSM. Physical disorders that may be related to psychological disorders.
Psychosocial and environmental problems
Axis 4 of DSM. Problems in a person’s life such as stressors or life events that may affect diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of psychological disorders.
Global assessment of functioning
Overall level of mental, social, occupational, and leisure functioning.
Rosenham’s study and what happened
9 psychologist conned the DSM. Answered all questions and test honestly, but only once said they heard voices. They were all admitted, and even though they no longer claimed to hear voices, were diagnosed severely abnormal and kept and average of 19 days. None were discovered as imposters by professionals, though some patients figured it out.
Anxiety disorders
Occurs when anxiety arises without external justification, and begins to affect people’s daily functioning
Anxiety disorders: phobic
An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
Anxiety disorders: panic
Attacks that occur, lasting between a few seconds to several hours, and having no identifiable stimuli. With no notable cause, it may lead to psychological disorders such as agoraphobia. May be caused by an overactive autonomic nervous system.
Anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety
Experience of long-term, persistent anxiety and uncontrollable worry. Sometimes there are identifiable causes, and sometimes they can’t be identified. May be accompanied by strong physiological symptoms such as muscle tension headaches, and insomnia.
Anxiety disorders: obsessive compulsive
When someone is plagued by unwanted thoughts, or feel they must carry out behaviors, which they feel driven to perform. Carrying out the rituals may lead to immediate reduced anxiety, but it retruns in the long run. May be caused by increased levels of grey matter.
