PSYA02H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Body Mass Index, Adrenal Gland, Hans Selye

• School: UTSC
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYA02H3
• Professor: Steve Joordens

Document Summary

Health psychologist: study both the (+) and (-) effects that humans" behaviours and decisions have on their health, survival, and well-being. Major focus on role of smoking--life expectancy is 7-14 yrs shorter than non-smoker. Putting pictorial warnings seemed to help (example of psychologists and government officials working together to improve peoples health) Body mass index (bmi): statistic commonly used for estimating a healthy body weight given an indivs height. Set point: hypothesized mechanism that serves to maintain body weight around a physiological programmed level. Social contagion: often subtle, unintentional spreading of a behaviour as a result of social interactions. Stress: psychological and physiological rxn that occurs when perceived demands exceed existing resources to meet those demands. Cognitive appraisal theory: by richard lazarus and susan folkman. Appraisal: refers to cognitive act of assessing and evaluating the potential threat and demands of an event. Primary appraisal: indiv perceives a potential threat.