Health – the overall condition of the body or mind and the presence or absence of illness or injury

Wellness – optimal health and vitality, encompassing all the dimensions of well-being

Risk Factor – a condition that increases ones chances of disease or injury

Infectious Disease – a disease that can spread from person to person; caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses

Chronic Disease – a disease that develops and continues over a long period of time, such as heart disease or cancer

Lifestyle Choice – a conscious behaviour that increase or decrease a person’s risk of disease or injury; such behaviours include smoking, exercising, eating a healthy diet, etc.

Sex – the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and woman

Gender – the roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women

Genome – the complete set of genetic material in an individual’s cells

Gene – the basic unit of heredity; a section of genetic material containing chemical instructions for making a particular protein

Behaviour Change – a lifestyle management process that involves cultivating healthy behaviours and working to overcome unhealthy ones

Target Behaviour – an isolated behaviour selected as the object for a behaviour change program

Self-efficacy – the belief in one’s ability to take action and perform a specific task

Locus of Control – the figurative “place” a person designates as the source of responsibility for the events in his or her life

Stressor – a physical or psychological event or condition that produces stress

Stress Response – the physical and emotional changes associated with stress

Stress – the general physiological and emotional state that accompanies the stress response

Autonomic Nervous System – the branch of the nervous system that controls basic body processes; consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Parasympathetic Division – a division of the autonomic that moderates the excitatory effect of that sympathetic division, slowing metabolism and restoring energy supplies

Sympathetic Division – a division of the autonomic nervous system that reacts to danger or other challenges by almost instantly accelerating body processes

Norepinephrine – a neurotransmitter released by the sympathetic nervous system onto specific tissues to increase their function in the face of increased activity; when released by the brain, causes arousal (increased attention, awareness, and alertness), also called noradrenaline

Endocrine System – the system of glands, tissues, and cells that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to influence metabolism and other body processes

Hormone – a chemical messenger produced in the body and transported in the bloodstream to target cells or organs for specific regulation of their activities

Cortisol – a steroid hormone secreted by the cortex (outer layer) of the adrenal gland; also called hydrocortisol

Epinephrine – a hormone excreted by the medulla (inner core) of the adrenal gland that effects the functioning of organs involved in responding to a stressor; also called adrenaline

Endorphins – brain secretions that have pain-inhibiting effects

Fight-or-Flight Reaction – a defense reaction that prepares an individual for conflict by triggering hormonal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and other changes

Homeostasis – a state of stability and consistency in an individual’s physiological functioning

Somatic Nervous System – the branch of the peripheral nervous system that governs motor functions and sensory information, largely under conscious control

Personality – the sum of behavioural, cognitive, and emotional tendencies

Gender Role – a culturally expected pattern of behaviour and attitudes determined by a person’s sex

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) – a pattern of stress responses consisting of three stages; alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

Eustress – stress resulting from a pleasant stressor

Distress – stress resulting from an unpleasant stressor

Allostatic Load – the long term negative impacts of the stress response on the body

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) – the study of the interactions among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems

Burnout – a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM) – the portion of the sleep cycle during which dreaming occurs

Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (non-REM) – the portion of the sleep cycle that involves deep sleep; non-REM sleep induces four states of successively deeper sleep

Sleep Deprivation – a lack of sleep over time

Insomnia – a sleep problem involving the inability to fall or stay asleep; affects more than 50% of adults

Sleep Apnea – the interruption of normal breathing during sleep

Relaxation Response – a physiological state characterized by a feeling of warmth and quiet mental alertness

Visualization – a technique for promoting relaxation or improving performance that involves creating or recreating vivid mental pictures of a place or experience; also called imagery

Meditation – a technique for quieting the mind by focusing on a particular word, object (such as a candle flame), or process (such as breathing)

Biofeedback – a technique in which monitoring devices help a person become conscious of unconscious body processes, such as body temperature or blood pressure, in order to exert some control over them

Psychological Health – mental health, defined either as the absense of illness or the presence of wellness

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Self-actualization – the highest level of growth in Maslow’s hierarchy

Self-Concept – the ideas, feelings, and perceptions one has about oneself; also called self image

Self-Esteem – satisfaction and confidence in oneself; the valuing of oneself as a person

Autonomy – independence; the sense of being self-directed

Inner-Directed – guided in behaviour by the inner set of rules and values

Other-Directed – guided in behaviour by the values and expectations of others

Authenticity – genuineness

Normality – the psychological characteristics attributed to the majority of people in a population at a given time

Identity Crisis – internal confusion about who one is

Values – criteria for judging what is good and what is bad, which underlie one’s moral decisions and behaviour

Cognitive Distortion – a pattern of negative thinking that makes events seem worse than they are

Self-Talk – the statements a person makes to himself or herself

Defense Mechanism – a mental mechanism for coping with conflict or anxiety

Assertiveness – expression that is forceful but not hostile

Anxiety – a feeling of fear that is not directed toward any definite threat

Simple (Specific) Phobia – a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object, activity, or situation

Social Phobia – an excessive fear of being observed in public; public speaking is the most common example

Panic Disorder – a syndrome of severe anxiety attacks accompanied by physical symptoms

Agoraphobia – an anxiety disorder characterized by fear of being alone away from help and avoidance of many different places and situations; in extreme cases, a fear of leaving home… comes from Greek “fear of public market”

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – an anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about all kinds of things and anxiety in many situations

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and the performing of senseless rituals

Obsession – a recurrent, irrational, unwanted thought or impulse

Compulsion – an irrational, repetitive, forced action, usually associated with an obsession

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – an anxiety disorder characterized by reliving traumatic events through dreams, flashbacks, and hallucinations

Mood Disorder – an emotional disturbance that is intense and persistent enough to affect normal function; two common types of mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder

Depression – a mood disorder characterized by loss of interest, sadness, hopelessness, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, and other physical symptoms

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – the use of electric shock to induce brief, generalized seizures; used in the treatment of selected psychological disorders

Seasonal Depressive Disorder (SAD) – a mood disorder characterized by seasonal depression, usually occurring during winter, when there is less daylight

Mania – a mood disorder characterized by excessive elation, irritability, talkativeness, inflated self-esteem, and expansiveness

Bipolar Disorder – a mental illness characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania

Schizophrenia – a psychological disorder that involve a disturbance in thinking and in perceiving reality

Placebo – a chemically inactive substance that a patient believes is an effective medical therapy for his or her condition. To help evaluate a therapy, medical researchers compare the effect of the particular therapy with the effects of the placebo. The “placebo effect” occurs when a patient responds to a placebo as if it were an active drug

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – a disorder characterized by persistent, pervasive problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity to a degree that is not considered appropriate for a child’s developmental stage and that causes significant difficulties in school, work, or relationships

Stimulus – anything that causes a response

Response – a reaction to a stimulus

Reinforcement – increasing the future probability of a response by following it with a reward

Exposure – a therapeutic technique for treating fear in which the subject learns to come into direct contact with a feared situation

Drug – any chemical other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body

Psychoactive Drug – a drug that can alter a person’s consciousness or experience

Intoxication – the state of being mentally affected by a chemical (literally; a state of being poisoned)

Addictive Behaviour – any habit that has gotten out of control, resulting in a negative effect on one’s health

Addiction – psychological or physical dependence on a substance or behaviour, characterized by a compulsive desired and increasing need for the substance or behaviour, and by harm to the individual and/or society

Habituation – similar to addiction, involving the routine use of a substance, but without the level of compulsion or increasing need that characterizes addiction

Pharmacy – the art of compounding drugs from various substances

Pharmacology – the science and study of drugs

Substance Abuse – a maladaptive pattern of using any substance that persists despite adverse social, psychological or medical consequences. The pattern may be intermittent, with or without tolerance and physical dependence

Physical Dependence – the result of physiological adaptation that occurs in response to the frequent presence of a drug; typically associated with tolerance and withdrawal

Substance Dependence – a cluster of cognitive, behavioural, and physiological symptoms that occur in someone who continues to use a substance despite suffering significant substance-related problems leading to significant impairment or distress; also known as addiction

Tolerance – lower sensitivity to a drug so that a given dose no longer exerts the usual effect and larger doses are needed

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Withdrawal – physical and psychological symptoms that follow the interrupted use of a drug on which a user is physically dependant; symptoms may be mild or life-threatening

Dual (Co-Occurring) Disorder – the presence of two or more mental disorders simultaneously in the same person; for example, drug addiction and depression

Neurotransmitter – a brain chemical that transmits nerve impulses

Pharmacological Properties – the overall effects of a drug on a person’s behaviour, psychology and chemistry

Dose-Response Function – the relationship between the amount of drug taken and the intensity and the type of the resulting effect

Time-Action Function – the relationship between the time elapsed since a drug was taken and the intensity of its effect

High – the subjectively pleasing effects of a drug, usually felt quite soon after the drug is taken

Placebo Effect – a response to an inert or innocuous medication given in place of an active drug

Opioid – any of several natural or synthetic drugs that relieve pain and cause drowsiness and/or euphoria; examples are opium, morphine, and heroin; also called narcotic

Euphoria – an exaggerated feeling of wellbeing

Depressant, or Sedative-Hypnotic – a drug that decreases nervous or muscular activity, causing drowsiness or sleep

Central Nervous System (CNS) – the brain and spinal cord

Sedation – the induction of a calm, relaxed, often sleepy state

Tranquilizer – a CNS depressant that reduces tension and anxiety

Anesthetic – a drug that produces a loss of sensation with or without a loss of consciousness

Stimulant – a drug that increases nervous or muscular activity

State Dependence – a situation in which information learned in a drug-induced state is difficult to recall when the effect of the drug wears off

Psychosis – a severe mental disorder characterized by a distortion of reality; symptoms might include delusions or hallucinations

Depersonalization – a state in which a person loses his or her reality or perceives his or her body as unreal

Hallucinogen – any of several drugs that alter perception, feelings, or thoughts; examples are LSD, mescaline, and PCP

Synesthesia – a condition in which a stimulus evokes not only the sensation appropriate to it but also another sensation of a different character; such as when a colour evokes a specific smell

Altered State of Consciousness – profound changes in mood, thinking, and perception

Flashback – a perceptual distortion or bizarre thought that recurs after the chemical effects of a drug have worn off

Codependency – a relationship in which a non-substance-abusing partner or family member is controlled by the abuser’s behaviour; codependent people frequently engage in enabling behaviours

Alcohol – the intoxicating ingredient in fermented or distilled beverages; a colourless pungent liquid

Proof Value – two times the percentage of alcohol by volume; a beverage that is 50% alcohol is 100 proof

One Drink – the amount of a beverage that typically contains about 0.6 ounce of alcohol; also called a standard drink

Metabolism – the chemical transformation of food and other substances in the body into energy and wastes

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) – the amount of alcohol in the blood in terms of weight per unit volume; used as a measure of intoxication

Cirrhosis – a disease in which the liver is severely damaged by alcohol, other toxins, or infection

Cardiac Myopathy – weakening of the heart muscle through disease

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – a characteristic group of birth defects caused by excessive alcohol consumption by the mother, including facial deformities, heart defects, and physical and mental impairments

Alcohol Related Nuerodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) – cognitive and behaviour problems seen in people whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy

Alcohol Abuse – the use of alcohol to a degree that causes physical damage, impairs functioning, or results in behaviour harmful to others

Alcohol Dependence – a pathological use of alcohol or impairment in functioning due to alcohol; characterized by a tolerance and withdrawal symptoms; alcoholism

Alcoholism – a chronic psychological disorder characterized by excessive and compulsive drinking

Binge Drinking – periodically drinking alcohol to the point of severe intoxication

Hallucinations – a false perception that does not correspond to external reality, such as seeing visions or hearing voices that are not there

Delirium Tremens (the DTs) – a state of confusion brought on by the reduction of alcohol intake in and alcohol-dependant person; other symptoms are sweating, trembling, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures

author avatar
William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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