AP Psychology: Mental and Physical Health Unit Review

Introduction

• Presenter: Tim Steedman
• Focus: Connection between mind and body, stress, psychological disorders
• Importance of Notes: Helpful for AP test preparation

Health Psychology

• Definition: Study of how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health
• Mind-Body Connection: Physical health impacts mental state and vice versa
• Prevention Focus: Healthy habits and stress management
• Key Concept: Behavior and mental processes shape well-being

Stress

• Definition: Body's response to demands or challenges
• Types of Stress:
  • Eustress (positive): Excitement before events
  • Distress (negative): Overwhelmed by tasks
  • Traumatic Stress: Major life events like disasters
• Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):
  • Alarm: Fight or flight response
  • Resistance: Coping with stress
  • Exhaustion: Depletion, possible health issues

Stress Responses

• Tend and Befriend: Seeking social support, caring for others
• Oxytocin's Role: Hormone promoting bonding and stress reduction
• Gender Differences: Men typically show "fight or flight," women "tend and befriend"

Coping Strategies

• Problem Focused Coping: Directly addressing the stressor
• Emotion Focused Coping: Managing emotional response to stress
• Combination: Best strategies often mix both types

Positive Psychology

• Focus: Human strengths, well-being, happiness
• Subjective Well-Being: Self-perceived happiness and life satisfaction
• Character Strengths: Wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence
• Post-Traumatic Growth: Growth after hardship

Psychological Disorders

• Definition: Significant disturbances in thoughts, emotions, or behaviors
• Criteria: Dysfunction, distress, deviation from social norms
• Diagnosis Tools: DSM (US) and ICD (Global)
• Multiple Perspectives:
  • Behavioral: Conditioning and reinforcement
  • Cognitive: Thought patterns
  • Psychodynamic: Unconscious conflicts
  • Humanistic: Personal growth
  • Biological: Brain chemistry
  • Evolutionary: Survival wiring
  • Sociocultural: Environmental influences

Types of Disorders

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders: ADHD, ASD
• Schizophrenia Spectrum: Distorted perception and thinking
• Depressive Disorders: Major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder
• Bipolar Disorders: Manic and depressive episodes
• Anxiety Disorders: Intense fear and anxiety
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: Obsessions and compulsions
• Dissociative Disorders: Disconnection from memory or identity
• Trauma-Related Disorders: PTSD
• Feeding and Eating Disorders: Anorexia, bulimia
• Personality Disorders: Enduring patterns affecting daily life

Treatment Approaches

• Biological Treatments: Medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics
• Psychotherapy: Structured talk therapy to change thoughts and behaviors
• Key Therapies:
  • Psychodynamic: Unconscious processes
  • Cognitive: Changing thought patterns
  • Behavioral: Changing behaviors
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Mix of cognitive and behavioral strategies
  • Humanistic: Self-improvement and personal growth

Alternative Approaches

• Hypnosis: Used for pain reduction and stress management
• TMS and ECT: Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques

Conclusion

• Unit Review Completion: Final unit of AP Psychology
• Next Steps: Prepare for course review and AP test

These notes provide a comprehensive summary of key concepts, theories, and strategies discussed in the lecture on mental and physical health, forming a useful reference for AP Psychology students.