Section 18: Health and Well-Being Psychology in Modules by Saul Kassin.

Section 18:Health and Well-Being

Psychology in Modules by Saul Kassin

©2006 Prentice Hall

Health and Well-Being

Mind Over Matter

The Self and Well-Being

Stress and Health

Coping with Stress


What’s Your Prediction?Does Stress Lower Resistance?

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) A new subfield of psychology that

examines the interactions among psychological factors, the nervous system, and the immune system


Mind Over Matter

“For a wide range of afflictions, 30 to 40 percent of patients experience relief after taking a placebo.” Walter A. Brown

Placebo Effect A placebo is any medical intervention

designed to improved one’s condition merely via the power of suggestion.


The Self and Well-Being The Self-Awareness “Trap”

Self-Awareness Theory Self-focused attention leads people to notice

their shortcomings, thus motivating a change in behavior or an escape from self-awareness


The Self and Well-Being Positive Illusions

Unrealistic Optimism

Regarding their future, students tend to rate their own chances as above average for positive events and below average for negative events.

Stress and Health

Health Psychology The study of the links between psychological factors and physical health and illness


Stress and Health Leading Causes of Death, 1900-2000

Since 1900, heart disease, cancer, and strokes have replaced infectious diseases as the major causes of death.

Behavioral factors contribute to each of these leading causes of death.


Stress and Health The Sources of Stress

Stress and Coping

Stress: An aversive state of arousal triggered by the perception that an event threatens the ability to cope effectively.

Although stressful events have effects on the body, the way people cope can promote health or illness.


Stress and Health The Sources of Stress Catastrophes

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) An anxiety disorder triggered by an extremely

stressful event, such as combat

Major Life Events Microstressors

Result in the most significant source of stress


Stress and Health The Physiological Effects of Stress

General Adaptation Syndrome


Stress and Health The Physiological Effects of StressPersonality & Coronary Heart Disease Type A Personality

Characterized by an impatient, hard-driving, and hostile pattern of behavior

Type B Personality Characterized by an

easygoing, relaxed pattern of behavior

People with Type A personality are more prone to coronary heart disease (CHD).


Stress and Health The Physiological Effects of Stress

Pathways From Stress to CHD

Under stress, people engage in behaviors that are less healthy and they are more physiologically reactive.

Both of these contribute to coronary heart disease.


Stress and Health The Immune System

A biological surveillance system that detects and destroys “nonself” substances that invade the body

Lymphocytes Specialized white blood cells that secrete

chemical antibodies and facilitate the immune response





Immune System Components

B cell migrates to a blood

vessel

Killer T-cell attacks a tumor

cell

Macrophage traps and ingests a

bacterium



Pathways From Stress to Illness

Negative emotional states (stress) can lead to unhealthy behaviors and trigger the release of hormones that suppress immune system activity.



Stress Duration and Illness

Volunteers were interviewed about life stressors, then infected with cold virus.

As length of stress increased, so did the likelihood of catching the cold.

Stress impairs immune system functioning.

Coping With StressCoping Strategies

Two general types of coping strategies Problem-focused coping, which is designed to reduce stress by dealing with the problem Emotion-focused coping, in which one tries to manage the negative emotions

Thought Suppression Can be maladaptive Distraction works better

Relaxation Aerobic Exercise


Coping With StressCoping Strategies

Relaxation and the Heart

Heart attack patients were taught to relax their pace. A control group

received standard medical care.

After three years, relaxation-trained patients suffered 50% fewer second heart attacks.


Coping With Stress The “Self-Healing Personality” Hardiness

It acts as a buffer against stress. It is a personality style characterized by commitment,

challenge, and control. Commitment

Sense of purpose in work, family, and life Challenge

Openness to new experiences and change Control

Belief that one has the power to influence important future outcomes


Coping With Stress The “Self-Healing Personality” Hopelessness and the Risk of Death In Finland, middle-age

men were rated for hopelessness.

Six years later, higher ratings of hopelessness predicted risk of overall death, cancer, and heart attack.


Coping With Stress Social Support

Much evidence shows that social support has therapeutic effects. Women with breast cancer who joined support

groups lived an average of eighteen months longer than women who did not join these groups.

Across gender, age, income level, and ethnicity, social support lowers mortality rates.


Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Estimated number of adults and children living with AIDS at the start of 2000

Section 18: Health and Well-Being Psychology in Modules by Saul Kassin.

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