PSY 321 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Psychosomatic Medicine, Hans Selye, Walter Bradford Cannon
Document Summary
Focused on the relationship between emotions and physiological responses. Considered the earliest work in the field of psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatic medicine - relationship between physiological states and physical illness. Homeostasis - represents the body"s effort to restore normal physiological functioning when some deviation is required. Humans do much the same in their efforts to cope with challenges of everyday life and he developed the general adaptation syndrome. General adaptation syndrome consists of three distinct stages: Alarm stage - physiological resources of the body are mobilized to deal with an impending threat. Resistance stage - body recognized that not all of its resources may be needed, and thus continues to mobilize only those that are necessary. Exhaustion stage - body realizes that its physiological resources are depleted and makes another attempt to mobilize. Diseases of adaptation - if the second attempt at mobilizing physiological resources does not neutralize the threat, may lead to permanent damage to the organism.
