PSYCH101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Big Five Personality Traits, Positive Psychology

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Paul Wehr

Document Summary

Coping refers to the process of managing stress, demands, and conflict. Some take a problem solving approach to a stressor: identifying problem ( ex debt) and finding solution (ex setting a monthly allowance) Some focus on dealing with the emotional aspect of the stressor - emotion focused coping - such as pet passing away - no solution available. Can use both in situations to deal with stress. Some coping methods replace one problem with another - not effective (drinking, smoking, overeating) Positive psychology: uses scientific methods to study human strengths and potential. Most powerful coping tool: focusing on positive emotions. E. x. watching funny movie when having a tough time. Negative moods cause perspective to be narrow and focused to small part of environment, Positive moods cause wide perspective and increased attention, increase in creativity. Speed of recovery (of autonomic system) such as heart rate slowing is faster when stressor followed by positive emotion.