Contagious diseases
were at one time the
largest cause of death.
Now chronic diseases,
like heart disease,
cancer and stroke
make up 55% of the
reason for death.
Biopsychosocial model
–physical illness is caused by
a complex interaction of
biological, psychological,
and sociocultural factors.
Health psychology –studies how
psychosocial factors relate to the
promotion and maintenance of
health and with the cause,
prevention and treatment of
illness.
Stress - occurs when
circumstances threaten or are
perceived to threaten one’s
well-being and tax one’s coping
abilities.
Primary appraisal is one’s first evaluation of whether
an event is 1) irrelevant, 2) relevant but not
threatening, or 3) stressful.
Secondary appraisal is made when one views
the event as stressful and evaluate one’s
coping resources and options for dealing
with it.
Types of Stress
1. Acute vs. Chronic – Acute stressors are short and
have a clear end point (e.g. exam) whereas chronic
stressors are relatively long and don’t have an end
time limit
2. Frustration – occurs when one’s
goals are blocked.
3. Internal Conflict – two or more
incompatible motivations or
behavioural impulses Kurt Lewin’s
types are 1) approach-approach - 2)
approach-avoidance - 3)
avoidance-avoidance -
4. Change – having to adapt
5. Pressure – time pressure as well
as expectations to behave in certain
ways
Responding to Stress
Emotional Responses Common
emotional responses - Annoyance,
anger, rage - Apprehension, anxiety,
fear - Dejection, sadness, grief
Fight-or-flight response (Walter Cannon,
1932) physiological response to threat in
which the autonomic nervous system
mobilizes one for attacking (fight) or
escaping (flight) the attacker.
Coping – active efforts to master, reduce or
tolerate the demands created by stress
Psychosomatic diseases – term was once used
when a physical problem (e.g. ulcers) was
believed to be caused by stress.
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
1. Alarm - Physiological arousal occurs when the organism first recognizes threat.
2. Resistance – if stress is prolonged chronic arousal can result.
3. Exhaustion – resources are depleted, arousal
decreases and animal collapses or has little
resistance to diseases.
Type A Personality, Hostility, and Heart disease
Type A Behaviour - 3 elements 1. strong
competitiveness 2. impatience and time urgency
3. anger and hostility
Type B – relaxed, patient, easygoing, not competitive or easily angered
Stress and immune functioning
Immune response – body’s defensive reaction
to invasion by bacteria, viruses, etc. Stress is
associated with reduced immune activity