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11.8: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    200454
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    alarm reaction
    first stage of the general adaptation syndrome; characterized as the body’s immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation or some other emergency; analogous to the fight-or-flight response
    asthma
    psychophysiological disorder in which the airways of the respiratory system become obstructed, leading to great difficulty expelling air from the lungs
    biofeedback
    stress-reduction technique using electronic equipment to measure a person’s involuntary (neuromuscular and autonomic) activity and provide feedback to help the person gain a level of voluntary control over these processes
    cardiovascular disorders
    disorders that involve the heart and blood circulation system
    coping
    mental or behavioral efforts used to manage problems relating to stress, including its cause and the unpleasant feelings and emotions it produces
    cortisol
    stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when encountering a stressor; helps to provide a boost of energy, thereby preparing the individual to take action
    daily hassles
    minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives and are capable of producing stress
    distress
    bad form of stress; usually high in intensity; often leads to exhaustion, fatigue, feeling burned out; associated with erosions in performance and health
    eustress
    good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal health and performance
    fight-or-flight response
    set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system
    flow
    state involving intense engagement in an activity; usually is experienced when participating in creative, work, and leisure endeavors
    general adaptation syndrome
    Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion
    happiness
    enduring state of mind consisting of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions; the sense that one’s life has meaning and value
    health psychology
    subfield of psychology devoted to studying psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill
    heart disease
    several types of adverse heart conditions, including those that involve the heart’s arteries or valves or those involving the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs; can include heart attack and stroke
    hypertension
    high blood pressure
    hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
    set of structures found in both the limbic system (hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary gland and adrenal glands) that regulate many of the body’s physiological reactions to stress through the release of hormones
    immune system
    various structures, cells, and mechanisms that protect the body from foreign substances that can damage the body’s tissues and organs
    immunosuppression
    decreased effectiveness of the immune system
    job burnout
    general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one’s job; consists of three dimensions: exhaustion, depersonalization, and sense of diminished personal accomplishment
    job strain
    work situation involving the combination of excessive job demands and workload with little decision making latitude or job control
    lymphocytes
    white blood cells that circulate in the body’s fluids and are especially important in the body’s immune response
    negative affectivity
    tendency to experience distressed emotional states involving anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness
    optimism
    tendency toward a positive outlook and positive expectations
    perceived control
    peoples’ beliefs concerning their capacity to influence and shape outcomes in their lives
    positive affect
    state or a trait that involves pleasurable engagement with the environment, the dimensions of which include happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement
    positive psychology
    scientific area of study seeking to identify and promote those qualities that lead to happy, fulfilled, and contented lives
    primary appraisal
    judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might entail
    psychoneuroimmunology
    field that studies how psychological factors (such as stress) influence the immune system and immune functioning
    psychophysiological disorders
    physical disorders or diseases in which symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors
    relaxation response technique
    stress reduction technique combining elements of relaxation and meditation
    secondary appraisal
    judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness
    Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
    popular scale designed to measure stress; consists of 43 potentially stressful events, each of which has a numerical value quantifying how much readjustment is associated with the event
    social support
    soothing and often beneficial support of others; can take different forms, such as advice, guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance
    stage of exhaustion
    third stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body’s ability to resist stress becomes depleted; illness, disease, and even death may occur
    stage of resistance
    second stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body adapts to a stressor for a period of time
    stress
    process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one’s well-being
    stressors
    environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process
    Type A
    psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by individuals who tend to be extremely competitive, impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others
    Type B
    psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by a person who is relaxed and laid back

    This page titled 11.8: Key Terms is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

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