Chapter 14- Health Psychology

• Theory of Reasoned Action-

effective change in behavior requires 3 important things

Health Psychology

emphasizes psychology's role in establishing and maintaining health and preventing and treating illness: Health psychology reflects the belief that lifestyle choices, behaviors, and psychological characteristics can play important roles in health

• Type A- •

excessively competitive, hard driven, impatient, and hostile.

• Theory of Planned Behavior-

includes 3 concepts of theory of reasoned action but adds a fourth - a person's perceptions of control over the outcome

• Type D personalities

indidviduals are generally distressed, experience negative emotion, and are socially inhibited

conscientious

individuals are responsible and reliable; they like structure and seeing a task to its completion.

self-efficacy

is an individual's belief that he or she can master a situation and produce positive outcomes.

hardiness-

is characterized by a sense of commitment rather than alienation, and of control rather than powerlessness, as well as a perception of problems as challenges rather than threats

• Coping-

kind of problem solving to reduce stress. Associated with a sense of personal control, healthy immune system, personal resources, positive emotions

3 stages of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

o Stage 1- alarm stage o Stage 2- resistance o Stage 3- exhaustion

• Stages of Change Model (5 stages)

process by which individuals give up bad habits and adopt healthier lifestyles. Precontemplation Contemplation Preparation/Determination Action/Willpower Maintenance

Type B-

relaxed and easy going

o problem-focused coping-

squarely facing ones troubles and trying to solve them

cortisol-

stress hormone that tells cells to make sugars to deal with acute stress situations to make quick decisions.

internal locus of control

Another personality characteristic associated with taking the right steps toward a long, healthy life is a sense of personal control,

• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)-

Hans Selye's term for the common effects on the body when demands are placed on it.

optimism.

One factor that is often linked to positive functioning and adjustment

emotion-focused coping -

The coping strategy that involves responding to the stress that one is feeling—trying to manage one's emotional reaction—rather than focusing on the root problem itself.

Theory of Reasoned Action (3 important things)

a. Specific intentions about the behavioral change b. Positive attitude about the new behavior c. Belief that ones social group looks upon the new behavior favorably

overweight and obesity

biggest health risk facing most americans today