Ch. 14 Part I
Sub-field of psychology concerned with how
psychological factors influence the causes
and treatments of physical illness and the
maintenance of health
Health psychology
An emotional and physiological reaction to an emergency that increases readiness for action.
Fight-or-flight response.
What produces antibodies that fight infection?
White blood cells (lymphocytes: T cells, B cells).
Avoiding feelings, thoughts, or situations that are reminders of a stressor and maintaining an artificially
positive viewpoint
Repressive coping
How can humour affect stress?
- Can reduce sensitivity to pain/distress
- Can reduce time to takes to calm down
after a stressful event
The scientific study of environmental effects on behaviour and health.
Environmental psychology
What does the HPA axis stand for?
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. It is the main stress (cascading) response system.
Tendency towards easily aroused hostility, impatience, time urgency, and competitive achievement strivings.
Type A behaviour pattern.
Type of coping that involves facing the stressor and working to overcome it, approaching rather than avoiding to minimize long-term impact; the three steps involved in the process.
Rational coping; acceptance, exposure, and understanding.
A coordinated, adaptive set of reactions to illness organized by the brain – keep you at home and not moving so energy can be spent getting you better
Sickness response
Difference between stressors and stress.
Stressors: specific events or chronic
pressures that place demands on a person
or threaten a person’s well-being
Stress: physical and psychological
response to internal or external stressors
The three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).
Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
What is the difference between primary and secondary appraisal in terms of psychological reactions?
Primary appraisal: interpretation of a
stimulus as stressful or not
Secondary appraisal: determining whether
the stressor is something you can handle or
not; aka your level of control; determine if
stressor is a threat (something you may not
be able to overcome) or a challenge
(confident you can control)
Define biofeedback
Involves the use of an external
monitoring device to obtain information
about a bodily function and gain over
control over that function.
Feigning medical or psychological symptoms to achieve
something desirable; difficult to identify.
Malingering
What are some sources of stress?
Major life changes/events (positive and negative), chronic stressors, and events in which nothing can be done (e.g. reduced perceived control).
Chronic stress leads to shorter ..... length and lower ..... activity
Telomere; telomerase.
Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lower performance and motivation
Burnout
Why is social support helpful for stress management and health overall?
- Can hellp you remember to follow doctor’s orders and eat well/exercise
– Talking with others provides benefits seen in
psychotherapy (but at reduced cost)
– Sharing tasks/helping reduces anxiety tied to
cognitive load
The two factors that influence personal health.
Health-relevant personality traits and engaging or not engaging in positive health behaviours.
Psychological/physical impact of .....
is greater and effects are longer-lasting than
major life events.
Daily hassles
...... can prevent chronic stress from shortening telomere length helping to slow the aging process.
Exercise/meditation
Symptoms of burnout.
Symptoms of burnout:
– Overwhelming exhaustion
– Deep cynicism
– Detachment from the job
– Sense of ineffectiveness
– Lack of accomplishment
What are the differences between men and women when it comes to stress responses?
– Men tend to use flight-or-fight; amplifies
unhealthy effects of stress
– Women tend to use tend and befriend:
taking care of people and bringing them
together/release (role of oxytocin)
A person’s bias toward believing they are less likely to fall victim to a problem than others
Illusion of unique vulnerability.