Last Minute Lecture

Psychological Influences on Physical Health — Stress, Immune Function, and Behavioral Medicine Explained | Chapter 7 of Essentials of Abnormal Psychology Health psychology examines how psychological and social factors influence physical well-being. Chapter 7 of Essentials of Abnormal Psychology delves into stress physiology, psychoneuroimmunology, psychosocial contributors to disease, and evidence-based behavioral medicine interventions. This summary will guide your understanding of how stress responses, immune function, and psychosocial treatments shape outcomes in cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, cancer, and more. Watch the Chapter Summary Prefer to learn by listening? Watch the full Chapter 7 summary below and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter study guides. Stress and Health: From GAS to Self-Efficacy Stress activates the body’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), a three-stage response proposed by Hans Selye: alarm, resistance, and exh...

How Personality Affects Mental Disorders and Physical Health Can your personality shape your health? Chapter 17 of The Personality Puzzle dives into the fascinating connection between personality traits, mental disorders, and physical well-being. From understanding how personality disorders are diagnosed in the DSM-5 to exploring how traits like conscientiousness and hostility influence longevity, this chapter highlights the deep interdependence between psychology and health outcomes. Watch the podcast-style summary above, or read below for a full breakdown of this chapter’s essential insights. What Is a Personality Disorder? A personality disorder is defined as a long-term pattern of maladaptive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that deviate from cultural norms and impair functioning. Unlike many mental health conditions, personality disorders are often ego-syntonic —the individual does not see their behavior as problematic—which complicates diagnosis and treatment. The...