The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View, 1st Edition (King)

Chapter 16: Health Psychology

Key Terms


acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)  A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a sexually transmitted infection that destroys the body's immune system.
aerobic exercise  Sustained exercise, such as jogging, swimming, or cycling, that stimulates heart and lung functioning.
behavioral medicine  An interdisciplinary field that focuses on developing and integrating behavioral and biomedical knowledge to promote health and reduce illness.
exercise  Structured activities whose goal is to improve health.
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)  Selye's term for the common effects on the body when demands are placed on it. The GAS consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
health behaviors  Practices that have an impact on physical well-being
health psychology  A field that emphasizes psychology's role in establishing and maintaining health and in preventing and treating illness.
implementation intentions  Specific strategies (such as setting specific plans and goals) for dealing with the challenges of making a life change.
psychoneuroimmunology  The field that explores connections among psychological factors (such as attitudes and emotions), the nervous system, and the immune system.
relapse  A return to former unhealthy patterns.
self-efficacy  The belief that one can master a situation and produce positive outcomes
sexually transmitted infection (STI)  Infections that are contracted primarily through sex—vaginal intercourse as well as oral-genital and anal-genital sex.
stages of change model  Five-step model that describes the process by which individuals give up bad habits and adopt healthier lifestyles.
stress management programs  Programs that teach individuals to appraise stressful events, to develop skills for coping with stress, and to put these skills into use in everyday life.
theory of planned behavior  Model for effective change incorporating the theory of reasoned action but adding the person's perceptions of control over the outcome.
theory of reasoned action  Model suggesting that effective change requires individuals to have specific intentions about their behaviors, as well as positive attitudes about the new behavior, and to perceive that their social group looks on the behavior positively.
King: The Science of Psychology large cover image
Glencoe Online Learning CenterSocial Studies HomeProduct InfoSite MapContact Us

The McGraw-Hill CompaniesGlencoe