### Week 12 Learning Objectives Assignment
#### 1. Contributions of Health Psychology to the Field of Psychology
Health psychology plays a crucial role in integrating psychological principles with physical health. It focuses on understanding how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and illness. This field contributes to:
– **Behavioral Interventions**: Developing and implementing strategies to promote healthy behaviors, such as smoking cessation and stress management.
– **Understanding Chronic Illness**: Investigating the psychological impacts of chronic conditions and how mental states influence the progression of diseases like diabetes or heart disease.
– **Health Promotion**: Educating individuals on preventive measures to avoid illness and improve quality of life.
– **Bio-Psycho-Social Model**: Emphasizing the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors in health and illness, providing a more holistic approach to patient care.
#### 2. Definition of Stress
Stress is a psychological and physiological response to perceived threats or challenges, which disrupts an individual’s equilibrium. It involves the activation of the body’s stress response systems, including the release of stress hormones like cortisol, and manifests in emotional, cognitive, and behavioral changes. Stress can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), and its impact varies based on individual perception and coping mechanisms.
#### 3. Sources of Stress
– **Daily Hassles**: Minor, everyday irritations and challenges that accumulate over time, such as traffic jams or work deadlines.
– **Life Changes**: Significant life events that require adjustment, like moving to a new city, starting a new job, or experiencing a relationship breakup.
– **Conflict**: Situations involving competing demands or desires, leading to internal or external conflict (e.g., choosing between work and family time).
– **Irrational Beliefs**: Cognitive distortions, such as perfectionism or catastrophizing, that exacerbate stress by creating unrealistic expectations or fears.
– **Type A Personality**: Characterized by high competitiveness, impatience, and hostility, which can increase stress levels and susceptibility to stress-related health issues.
#### 4. Moderators of Stress
– **Self-Efficacy**: Belief in one’s ability to handle challenges effectively, which can reduce perceived stress and improve coping.
– **Hardiness**: A personality trait involving commitment, control, and challenge, which helps individuals manage stress more effectively.
– **Sense of Humor**: Using humor to cope with stress can provide psychological relief and improve resilience.
– **Social Support**: Having a network of friends, family, and colleagues who provide emotional, informational, and practical support can buffer the effects of stress.
#### 5. Impact of Stress on the Body
– **General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)**: This model describes the physiological response to stress in three stages: alarm (initial reaction), resistance (adaptation to stress), and exhaustion (depletion of resources). Chronic stress can lead to health issues like cardiovascular disease and weakened immune function.
– **Immune System**: Prolonged stress can impair immune system function, making individuals more susceptible to infections and illnesses by reducing the efficiency of immune responses.
#### 6. Relationship Between Psychology and Health
– **Headaches**: Psychological factors like stress, anxiety, and depression can contribute to tension headaches and migraines.
– **Cardiovascular Disease**: Stress, especially chronic stress and Type A behavior, is linked to increased risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes.
– **Cancer**: Chronic stress may influence cancer progression and survival, potentially affecting immune system function and cellular processes.
– **Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)**: Stress can impact sexual health behaviors, increasing risky behaviors and reducing adherence to preventive measures.
#### 7. Effective Prevention Measures
– **Headaches**: Stress management techniques, regular physical activity, and relaxation exercises can help prevent tension headaches. Identifying and avoiding headache triggers is also beneficial.
– **Cardiovascular Disease**: Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management practices, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
– **Cancer**: Preventive measures include avoiding known carcinogens, regular screenings, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and managing stress effectively.
– **Sexually Transmitted Diseases**: Consistent use of protection, regular health check-ups, and education about safe sex practices are crucial in preventing STIs.
#### 8. Functions of Emotion and the Yerkes-Dodson Law
Emotions serve several functions, including guiding behavior, facilitating communication, and enhancing survival. The Yerkes-Dodson Law posits that there is an optimal level of arousal for performance: too little arousal can lead to boredom and underperformance, while too much arousal can cause anxiety and decrease performance. Optimal performance is achieved at moderate levels of arousal, balancing stress and engagement.
#### 9. Type A vs. Type B Personalities
– **Type A Personality**: Characterized by high levels of competitiveness, time urgency, and hostility. Research shows that Type A behavior is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders due to heightened stress and poor coping mechanisms.
– **Type B Personality**: More relaxed, less competitive, and less prone to stress-related behaviors. Type B individuals generally have a lower risk of stress-related health issues.
### Week 12 Discussion Board: Stress, Coping, and Health
**1. Advice for Managing Stress in College**
For your 17-year-old sister about to start college, consider the following advice to manage, prevent, and cope with stress:
– **Manage Stress**: Encourage her to develop time management skills and establish a balanced schedule. Techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation exercises can help her stay grounded.
– **Prevent Stress**: Suggest she set realistic goals and avoid overcommitting. Regular physical activity and maintaining social connections can also help prevent stress.
– **Cope with Stress**: Recommend she adopt healthy coping strategies, such as seeking support from friends, family, or campus counseling services. Cognitive-behavioral techniques can help her reframe negative thoughts and manage anxiety effectively.
**2. Increasing Happiness Across Subjective Well-Being Types**
People who experience high life satisfaction but low enjoyment of life or high negative feelings can benefit from:
– **Enhancing Positive Experiences**: Engage in activities that increase positive emotions and enjoyment, such as hobbies, social activities, and new experiences.
– **Reducing Negative Feelings**: Practice stress management techniques and cognitive-behavioral strategies to address and reduce negative emotions.
– **Overall Well-Being**: Focus on building a balanced life by integrating positive experiences, achieving goals, and maintaining supportive relationships. Regular self-reflection and personal growth activities can also contribute to a more holistic sense of happiness.
**References**
– American Psychological Association. (2019). Stress: The different types of stress and how it affects us. Retrieved from [APA website]
– Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). *Stress, appraisal, and coping*. Springer Publishing Company.
– Selye, H. (1976). *The stress of life*. McGraw-Hill.
– Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908). The relationship of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. *Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology*, 18(5), 459-482.
Week 12 Learning Objectives Assignment
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Please answer the following questions:
1. Explain the contributions that health psychology makes to the overall field of psychology.
2. Clearly define what is meant by stress.
3. Explain the various sources of stress including daily hassles, life changes, conflict, irrational beliefs, and the Type A personality.
4. Explain the moderators of stress including self-efficacy, hardiness, sense of humor and social support.
5. Explain the impact of stress on the body; specifically the general adaptation syndrome and the immune system.
6. Explain the relationship between psychology and health including headaches, cardiovascular disease, cancer and sexually transmitted infections.
7. Explain the effective prevention measures of headaches, cardiovascular disease, cancer and sexually transmitted disease.
8. Explain the functions of emotion, especially in terms of the Yerkes-Dodson Law.
9. In what respect do Type A and Type B personalities differ? Summarize the research regarding the relationship between Type A behavior and cardiovascular disorders.
Week 12 – Discussion Board: Stress, Coping, and Health
Thoughts on Stress and Happiness
Answer the following questions in a discussion post of at least 200 words:
1-Imagine your 17-year old sister is about to start her first semester of college. She’s always been one to do it all but can become easily stressed. What advice would you give her about ways to manage her stress, prevent stress, and cope with stress? Use specific theories and examples from your reading.
2- Do you know people who are happy in one way but not in others? People who are high in life satisfaction, for example, but low in enjoying life or high in negative feelings? What should they do to increase their happiness across all three types of subjective well-being?
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