PSYCH FINAL: CHAPTER 14

Question 1

What is a health psychologist?

Answer 1

researcher who studies both positive and negative effects that human’s behaviour and decisions have on their health, survival and well being

Question 2

Why do university students gain weight?

Answer 2

increased food intake, decreased physical activity, increased alcohol consumption

Question 3

Body Mass index (BMI) is used for what?

Answer 3

to account for height differences

Question 4

BMI definition is?

Answer 4

statistic commonly used for estimating a healthy body weight given an individuals height

Question 5

How is BMI calculated?

Answer 5

by dividing the person’s weight by the square of a persons height

ex. weight is 100kg, height is 180 cm BMI = 100/1.8squared = 30.9

Question 6

What is a healthy, underweight, overweight and obese BMI?

Answer 6

healthy is 18.5 to 24.9
underweight is less than 18.5
overweight is 25-29.9
obese is over 30

Question 7

Obesity is?

Answer 7

a growing concern associated with numerous health consequences such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoarthritis

Question 8

Why is weight gained?

Answer 8

positive energy balance meaning too many calories come in and not enough are expended

Question 9

other factors for weight gain include?

Answer 9

genetics, lifestyle, social variables

Question 10

Genes contribute to?

Answer 10

the development of a set point

Question 11

what is a set point?

Answer 11

a hypothesized mechanism that serves to maintain body weight around a physiologically programmed level

Question 12

set point is relatively?

Answer 12

a small range encompassing 10% to 20% of one’s weight

Question 13

your initial set point is controlled by?

Answer 13

genetic mechanisms but your actual weight can be modified by environmental factors (what and how much you eat)

Question 14

Obesity rates are affected by?

Answer 14

social factors including influences from one’s family

Question 15

First step to psychological research to help people loose weight is?

Answer 15

think critically about the weight loss options that are out there and find a way to effectively motivate people to change their behaviours

Question 16

Positive emotion is likely to have what?

Answer 16

reduced the participants stress regarding dieting which could lead to reduction in the amount of food consumed

Question 17

health and weight do what together?

Answer 17

increase together and socioeconomic factors have numerous positive and negative effects

Question 18

health problems are magnified by?

Answer 18

stress

Question 19

Discrimination is?

Answer 19

a stressor that can compromise both physical and mental health and is problematic because it is often uncontrollable and unpredictable

Question 20

social resilience is?

Answer 20

ability to keep positive relationships and to endure and recover from social isolation and life stressors which can protect them from negative health consequences of loneliness and social isolation

Question 21

marriage is?

Answer 21

shown to have long term health benefits

Question 22

what can have a large effect on our health related behaviours?

Answer 22

the social group(s) we belong to

Question 23

what is social contagion?

Answer 23

the often subtle unintentional spreading of a behaviour as a result of social interactions

Question 24

stress is?

Answer 24

a psychological and physiological reaction that occurs when perceived demands exceed resources to meet those demands

Question 25

stress refers to?

Answer 25

both events (stressors) and experiences in response to those events (Stress response) and chronic events these can be positive and negative on performances

Question 26

appraisal refers to?

Answer 26

the cognitive act of assessing and evaluating the potential threat and demands of an event

Question 27

1st step of appraisal is?

Answer 27

individual perceives a potential threat and begins the primary appraisal by asking herself is this a threat

Question 28

2nd step of appraisal is?

Answer 28

as events unfold the secondary appraisal begins where she cops with the threat if not then stress will continue

Question 29

threats can be?

Answer 29

physical or psychosocial

Question 30

the highest stress events include?

Answer 30

death of a spouse and divorce holidays and tickets are low end

Question 31

almost everyone has?

Answer 31

individual zone of optimal functioning

Question 32

what is the individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF)?

Answer 32

a range of emotional intensity in which he or she is most likely to perform at his or her best

Question 33

stress depends on?

Answer 33

our mental appraisal of a situation or event

Question 34

physiological response to stress occurs where?

Answer 34

throughout most of the body

Question 35

fight or flight response is?

Answer 35

a set ph physiological changes that occur in response to psychological or physical threats

Question 36

what is general adaptation syndrome? (GAS)

Answer 36

a theory of stress responses involving stages of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

Question 37

Alarm reaction consists of?

Answer 37

your recognition of the threat and the physiological reactions that accompany it including increases in blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate and adrenaline release

Question 38

resistance is

Answer 38

second part of response

Question 39

resistance is characterized by?

Answer 39

an individual using his or her physical and mental resources to respond to the stressor in an appropriate way

Question 40

exhaustion is?

Answer 40

third stage of response which occurs when the stressful experience depletes your physical resources and your physiological stress response and your ability to cope declines

Question 41

what is part of the stress responses to both positive and negative events?

Answer 41

sweaty palms, increased heart rate and gastrointestinal sensations

Question 42

in response to stress the hypothalamus does what?

Answer 42

stimulates the sympathetic nervous system which causes the adrenal medulla to release epinephrine and norephephrine

Question 43

epinephrine and norephephrine do what?

Answer 43

trigger the bodily changes associated with fight or flight response

Question 44

what is the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal? HPA axis?

Answer 44

a neural and endocrine circuit that provides communication between nervous system(hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary and adrenal glands)

Question 45

when your perceive you are in a stressful situation what happenes?

Answer 45

hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together to stimulate the release of cortisol

Question 46

cortisol is?

Answer 46

a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that prepares the body to response to stressful circumstances

Question 47

who has a large cortisol response?

Answer 47

males

Question 48

men vs women responses?

Answer 48

men is fight or flight women is social response (tend and befriend)

Question 49

tend and befriends reaction may be promoted by the release of what?

Answer 49

oxytocin which is a stress sensitive hormone that is typically associated with maternal bonding and social relationships

Question 50

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

Answer 50

the study of this relationship between immune system and nervous system functioning

Question 51

high stress levels put people at risk for?

Answer 51

developing coronary heart disease a condition in which plaques form in the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood an oxygen, resulting in restricted blood flow

Question 52

Type A personality describes people

Answer 52

who tend to be impatient and worry about time, easily angered, competitive and highly motivated

Question 53

Type B personality describes people

Answer 53

who are more laid back and characterized by patient, easygoing and relaxed disposition

Question 54

what will dictate if you are happy with stress?

Answer 54

being able to cope with it

Question 55

coping refers to?

Answer 55

processes used to manage demands, stress and conflict

Question 56

coping strategies include?

Answer 56

problem focused coping and emotion focused coping

Question 57

positive psychology uses?

Answer 57

scientific methods to study human strengths and potential

Question 58

optimism is?

Answer 58

tendency to have a favourable constructive view on situation and to expect positive outcomes

Question 59

pessimism is?

Answer 59

tendency to have a negative perception of life and expect negative outcomes

Question 60

pessimistic explanatory style is?

Answer 60

tendency to interpret and explain negative events as internally based and as a a constant stable quality

Question 61

pessimism is linked to?

Answer 61

negative affectivity

Question 62

negative affectivity is?

Answer 62

tendency to response to problems with a pattern of anxiety, hostility, anger, guilt or nervousness

Question 63

resilience is?

Answer 63

ability to effectively recover from illness or adversity

Question 64

stress and trauma can also lead people to recognize what?

Answer 64

how strong they really are

Question 65

post traumatic growth is?

Answer 65

capacity to grow and experience long term positive effects in response to negative events

Question 66

post traumatic growth and post traumatic stress happen when?

Answer 66

together

Question 67

biofeedback is?

Answer 67

a therapeutic technique involving the use pf physiological recording instruments to provide feedback that increases awareness of bodily responses

Question 68

Meditation is?

Answer 68

any procedure that involves a shift in consciousness to a state in which an individual is highly focused, aware and in control of mental process