Psych---Ch. 15

stressors

specific events or pressures that place demand on a person or their well being

chronic stressors

source of stress that occurs continuously

physical reactions

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fight or flight response

emotional and physiological reaction to an emergency that increases readiness for action

general adaptation syndrome

three stage physiological response that appears regardless of the stressors that is encountered. (alarm, resistance, and exhaustion)

alarm phase

phase where initial reaction, energy is required and body calls stored fat and muscle. equivalent to "fight or flight

exhaustion phase

phase where body's resistance collapses. Creates gradual damage as they operate. Aging, irreversible, organ damage and death.

type A behavior pattern

tendency toward easily aroused hostility, impatience, a sense of time urgency and competitive achievement strivings.

primary appraisal

allows you to realize what is stressful or not

secondary appraisal

determining whether the stressor is something you can handle or not, control over event

PTSD

after a person lives through an experience so threatening and uncontrollable that he or she is left with feelings of terror and helplessness.

burnout

state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion created by long term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lower performance and motivation

repressive coping

avoiding situations or thoughts that are reminders of a stressor and maintaing an artificially positive view point

rational coping

facing a stressor and working to overcome it

reframing

finding a new or creative way to think about a stressor that reduces its threats

relaxation therapy

technique for reducing tension by consciously relaxing muscles of the body

relaxation response

a condition of reduced muscle tension, heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure

biofeedback

use of an external monitoring device to obtain information about a bodily function and possibly gain control over that function

social support

aid gained through interacting with others

tend and befriend

taking care of people and bringing them together

somatoform disorders

set of psychological disorders in which the person displays physical symptoms and develops an exaggerated belief that the symptoms signify a life-threatening illness

psychosomatic illness

interaction between mind and body that can produce illness

hypochondriasis

psychological disorder in which a person is preoccupied with minor symptoms and develops an exaggerated belief that the symptoms signify a life threatening illness

somatization disorder

psychological disorder involving combinations of multiple physical complaints with no medical explanation

conversion disorder

disorder characterized by apparently debilitating physical symptoms that appear to be volunteer

the sick role

socially recognized set of rights and obligations linked with illness

malingering

some people feign medical or psychological symptoms to achieve something they want

optimism

a general disposition to expect the best in all things

hardiness

thick-skinned, able to take stress or abuse that can be devastating to others in a different way. By using commitment, control and challenge

self-regulation

exercise of voluntary control over the self to being the self into line with preferred standards.

unique invulnerability illusion

systematic bias toward believing that they are less likely to fall victim to the problem than are others