Describe psychophysiological disorders and some of the factors that may lead to their development. How are some people able to avoid succumbing to the ill effects of these risk factors?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Psychophysiological disorders are physical disorders that have a strong psychological basis or component yet involve tissue damage (such as coronary heart disease), a disease process (e.g., immune impairment), or physiological dysfunction (e.g., asthma). The primary factor in developing these disorders is exposure to stressors, which are external events or situations that place a physical or psychological demand on a person; they can range from chronic irritation and frustration (like when your computer "crashes") to acute and traumatic events (such as war, rape, or natural disasters). More specifically, we are constantly dealing with biological stressors (e.g., genetic inheritance or genetic predispositions that, when combined with environmental situations, can result in a psychophysiological disorder like asthma or heart disease); psychological stressors (e.g., cognitive functioning); social factors (e.g., lack of social support); or sociocultural factors (e.g., racial, gender, or age bias).

There are many ways to reduce one's risk for developing some of these disorders, or for dealing with them in a healthier fashion. These include living a healthy lifestyle, assuming an optimistic perspective, reducing hostility, creating areas of one's life where s/he has a sense of control, finding social support, developing one's sense of spirituality, and learning to relax.