Physiological Factors: Stress and Health Flashcards
(25 cards)
the three stages of the body’s physiological reaction to stress, including alarm, resistance, and exhaustion
General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)
Stage in General Adaption Syndrome:
When the body first reacts to a stressor, the sympathetic nervous system is activated.
Alarm
Stage in General Adaption Syndrome:
As the stress continues, the body settles into sympathetic division activity, continuing to release the stress hormones that help the body fight off, or resist, the stressor.
Resistance
Stage in General Adaption Syndrome:
When the body’s resources are gone, this occurs. This can lead to the formation of stress-related diseases (e.g., high blood pressure or a weakened immune system) or the death of the organism if outside help is unavailable .
Exhaustion
the system of cells, organs, and chemicals of the body that responds to attacks from diseases, infections, and injuries
Immune System
the study of the effects of psychological factors such as stress, emotions, thoughts, and behavior on the immune system
Psychoneuroimmunology
the buildup of a waxy substance called plaque in the arteries of the heart
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
disease typically occurring in middle adulthood when the body either becomes resistant to the effects
of insulin or can no longer secrete enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels
Type 2 Diabetes
immune-system cell responsible for suppressing viruses and destroying tumor cells
Natural Killer (NK) Cell
area of psychology focusing on how physical activities, psychological traits, stress reactions, and social relationships affect overall health and rate of illnesses
Health Psychology
the first step in assessing stress, which involves estimating the severity of a stressor and classifying it as either a threat or a challenge
Primary Appraisal
the second step in assessing a stressor, which involves estimating the resources available to the person for coping with the threat
Secondary Appraisal
person who is ambitious, time conscious, extremely hardworking, and tends to have high levels of hostility and anger as well as being easily annoyed
Type A Personality
person who is relaxed and laid-back, less driven and competitive than Type A, and slow to anger
Type B Personality
pleasant but repressed person, who tends to internalize his or her anger and anxiety and who finds expressing emotions difficult
Type C Personality
a person who seems to thrive on stress but lacks the anger and hostility of the Type A personality
Hardy Personality / Type H
people who expect positive outcomes
Optimists
negative changes in thoughts, emotions, and behavior as a result of prolonged stress or frustration, leading to feelings of exhaustion
Burnout
stress resulting from the need to change and adapt a person’s ways to the majority culture
Acculturative Stress
original identity maintained but forms positive relationships with members of dominant culture (lowest stress)
Integration
individual gives up old culture and completely adopts ways of majority (moderate stress)
Assimilation
majority culture is rejected and original cultural identity is maintained (high stress)
Separation
does not maintain contact with original culture or join majority culture (greatest stress)
Marginalization
