Final Exam Flashcards
(124 cards)
Stress
A response elicited when a situation overwhelms a person’s perceived ability to meet the demands of a situation.
Fight or Flight
Fight: Triggered by aggression and evolved to defend territorial boundaries or attack aggressors.
Flight: Induced by fear and evolved to enable prolonged movement to run away or hide/withdraw from threat.
(Walter Cannon)
General Adaptation Syndrome
3 inherent stages to body’s reaction to stress: alarm,resistance and exhaustion.(Hans Selye)
Alarm Phase
The theat is perceived and the nervous system is triggered for survival.
Resistance Phase
Body tries to recover and revert back to the state of physiological calm or homeostatis, by resisting the alarm.
Exhaustion Phase
Final stage in which one or more target organs show signs of dysfunction.
The SNS Response
Is the activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System.
The Endocrine Response
Two pathways: SAM and HPAC.
SAM: Sympathadreno-Medulary System- Sympathetic Nervous System, Adrenal Medulla, Catecolamines(Epinephrine, Norepinephrine)-Fight or Flight.
HPAC: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-Cortical-Sympathetic Nervous System,Hypothalamus,Pituitary gland, Adrenal cortex-cortisol-increased energy & protection from tissue inflammation.
Internal Locus of Control vs External Locus of Control
Internal Control:Belief that a person is responsible for what happens to them.
External Locus of Control:Belief that a person’s life is controlled by luck, fate, or other people.
Primary vs Secondary Control
Primary Control: An effort to modify reality by changing other people, the situation, or events. Primarily in Western Cultures. “Fighting Back” Philosophy.
Secondary Control: An effort to accept reality by changing your own attitudes,goals, or emotions. Primarily in Eastern Cultures. “ Learn to live with it” Philosophy.
Hostility and Heart Disease
The higher the hostility the higher rate of heart disease later on in life. Hostility is more hazardous than a heavy workload.
Risk Factors of Illness
Environmental: Poverty, Exposure to Toxins ,Crime.
Experiential: Childhood neglect, Traumatic Events, Chonic Job Stress, Unemployment.
Biological: Viral or Bacterial Infections, Disease, Genetic Vulnerability.
Psychological: Hostility,Chronic Major Depression, Pessimism, Feeling Powerless.
Behavioral: Smoking, Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise, Lack of Sleep, Alcohol Abuse.
Social: Lack of Supportive Friends, Bitter Relationship.
Coping with Stress
Ways of dealing with stress. For example problem focused and emotional focused.
Problem Focused Coping: Involves thoughts and actions towards solving the problems causing distress.
Emotional Focused Coping: Is aimed at reducing the negative emotions associated with the problem.
Expressive Writing
An effective form of expression. A way of confiding undisclosed secrets. Enables to form a coherent narrative of the traumatic experience. Reframing and requires no feedback. Revealing pent-up thoughts is liberating. ( James Pennebaker)
Psychosomatic Theory
Idea that emotional factors can lead to the occurrence or worsening of illness.
Physiological Reactivity Model
Examines how sustained physiological activation associated with the stress response can affect body systems to increase illness.
Psychological Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Type A and Anger: People with Type A Behavior Pattern are at greater risk for heart disease- Impatient, Competitive, Rushed for Time & Hostile.
Lifestyle Choices as a Health Risk
Smoking, Drinking Alcohol raise your health risks.
For example smoking reduces life expectancy by an average of 10 years. Secondhand smoke can carry as much risk as actively smoking.
Alcohol is a depressant and in excess can cause cirrhosis. Moderate consumption may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Personality
The unique and relatively enduring set of behaviors, thoughts, motives, and emotions that characterize an individual over time and across different situations.
Trait
A characteristic of an individual, describing a habitual way of behaving, thinking and feeling.
Psychodynamic Theories
Theories that explain behavior and personality in terms of unconscious energy dynamics within the individual.
Psychoanalysis
A theory of personality and a method of psychotherapy developed by Sigmund Freud. Emphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts.
Id
Operates according to the pleasure principle. Primitive, unconscious part of personality.
Ego
Operates according to the reality principle. Mediates between id and superego.