Health Psychology + Stress
Which branch of psychology explores how behavior, mental processes, and the body interact to influence overall well-being?
Health Psychology
Which field of psychology studies human strengths, well-being, and optimal functioning?
Positive Psychology.
Which manual is used by clinicians to diagnose psychological disorders in the United States?
DSM-V
After experiencing episodes of extreme energy, rapid speech, impulsive shopping sprees, and then weeks of deep sadness and lethargy, Mateo seeks help. What disorder might he be diagnosed with?
Bipolar Disorder
Lena’s therapist helps her identify her negative thought patterns, like “I always fail,” and teaches her to challenge them with evidence. What type of therapy is she using?
Cognitive Therapy
What are the three stages of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?
Alert, Resistance, Exhaustion
During a classroom activity, students take a survey to identify their most authentic personality traits. One student learns that their top strengths are honesty, kindness, and perseverance—and starts using those to help others in the community. According to positive psychology, what is this student exploring?
Signature Strengths and Virtues
A person has a genetic vulnerability to anxiety but only develops symptoms after a traumatic event. What model explains this?
Diathesis-Stress Model
A person avoids malls and public places due to fear of not being able to escape. Which disorder might this be?
Agoraphobia
A psychiatrist prescribes medication to increase the availability of serotonin in the brain. The patient is being treated for persistent feelings of sadness and anxiety. What class of medication is this, and what disorders is it treating?
SSRIsm, used for treating depression and anxiety disorders
A person feels motivated and focused before a big test, while another feels overwhelmed and shuts down. What explains this difference in how stress is experienced?
The difference between eustress and distress.
After volunteering abroad, Amir feels deeply connected to a greater purpose. What level of psychological well-being has he reached, according to Maslow?
Transcendence
Which perspective emphasizes unconscious conflicts as the root of psychological disorders?
Psychodynamic Perspective.
David often feels worthless and uninterested in things he used to enjoy. He struggles to get out of bed and has withdrawn from friends. These symptoms have lasted over two weeks. What disorder might David be experiencing?
Major Depressive Disorder
Marcus is terrified of dogs. In therapy, he starts by looking at pictures of dogs, then watching videos, and eventually petting one while practicing deep breathing. What technique is his therapist using?
Systematic desensitization.
After weeks of working overtime, sleeping poorly, and experiencing constant pressure to meet deadlines, Jordan begins catching frequent colds and infections. What biological process explains how chronic stress is weakening his body’s defenses?
Immune Suppression
How does positive psychology differ from traditional clinical psychology? Provide one example of an intervention from each.
Positive psych = well-being (e.g., gratitude journal); clinical psych = treatment (e.g., CBT).
Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with schizophrenia?
Dopamine
Emily experiences intense mood swings, has a deep fear of abandonment, and often goes from idealizing people to suddenly pushing them away. What personality disorder does this describe?
Borderline Personality Disorder
During therapy, Maya receives praise and tokens for making eye contact and using polite greetings, which can later be exchanged for small rewards. What therapeutic approach is this?
Behavior Therapy (specifically token economy)
What coping strategy involves identifying stressors and taking active steps to reduce or eliminate them?
Problem-Focused Coping
After surviving a natural disaster, Priya reports feeling more grateful for life, more connected to her community, and more committed to helping others. Despite the trauma, she says the experience gave her a clearer sense of purpose. What positive psychological outcome is Priya demonstrating?
Posttraumatic Growth
After being bitten by a dog as a child, Tessa now experiences intense fear whenever she sees any dog. A psychologist explains that her phobia developed through classical conditioning and is maintained by avoidance behavior. Which psychological perspective best explains this approach to understanding her phobia?
Behavioral Perspective
Jared hears voices that aren’t real and believes strangers are spying on him. Megan, on the other hand, has multiple distinct identities with their own names and histories. How do their disorders differ?
Jared has schizophrenia; Megan has dissociative identity disorder.
In individual sessions, Carla learns how her thoughts like “I’m not good enough” are contributing to her depression. Her therapist helps her replace these thoughts and build healthier habits. What type of therapy is she receiving, and how does it treat depression?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT); it treats depression by targeting both thoughts and behaviors.