14.3 Stress and Illness — How Chronic Stress Physically Breaks Your Body | Psychology 2e
After this lesson you will be able to…
- Learn how chronic psychological stress causes physical wear and tear on the body.
- Understand why the body's acute stress response is harmful when chronically activated.
- Explore how social and environmental factors contribute to chronic psychological stress.
- Learn how chronic stress directly suppresses the immune system, increasing vulnerability to illness.
- Discover how chronic psychological stress shortens telomeres, leading to premature cellular aging.
- Understand how chronic anger and hostility physically damage the cardiovascular system.
- Learn how a hostile disposition creates a self-reinforcing cycle of stress and physical damage.
- Understand how depression is a significant and measurable risk factor for heart attacks.
- Learn how emotional distress can trigger physical lung obstructions via the vagus nerve.
- Understand how chronic stress increases pain sensitivity, leading to conditions like tension headaches.
- Recognize the mind and body as a single system and the need for active self-regulation.
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(0)This lesson explores the biology behind psychophysiological disorders — real, measurable physical conditions produced or worsened by chronic psycholog...
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Quiz: How Chronic Stress Causes Physical Illness
FundamentalsAnswer the following questions based on the video lesson you just watched. All answers can be found in the video — no outside knowledge is needed.
Practice: Psychophysiological Disorders and Chronic Stress
PracticeAnswer each question using concepts and evidence presented in the video lesson. Questions progress from recall to application — read each stem carefully and support your answers with specific mechanisms, studies, or data from the video.