1. Health Behavior Intervention
Jennie Kaufman
NPSY 3843: Health Psychology
Spring 2013
The New School

2. The Problem

3. The Problem
Seething.

4. The Problem
Seething.

5. Frustration

6. Frustration
Anger

7. Frustration
Anger
Hostility

12. Seething can lead to a heart attack.
And it’s not conducive to social support.

13. Hostility is a risk factor for
cardiovascular disease.

14. Catecholamines
Hormones* that can influence the
development of atherosclerotic plaque
and possibly contribute to a heart attack
*Epinephrine and norepinephrine, which can also be neurotransmitters

15. Hostility is a trait.
Seething is a behavior.

16. SNS

17. Elements of the Intervention
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

18. Elements of the Intervention
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

19. Elements of the Intervention
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

20. Elements of the Intervention
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

21. Elements of the Intervention
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

22. Elements of the Intervention
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

23. Personal control
is a big factor.

24. How did it go?

25. There were some setbacks.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
Numberofepisodesperweek
Seethed
Half-seethed

26. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
Numberofepisodesperweek
Seethed
Half-seethed

27. I hate those bicyclists!

28. Emotion-focused coping

29. Sympathetic nervous system arousal
• Dilates pupils
• Inhibits salivation
• Speeds heart rate
• Stimulates sweating
• Inhibits digestive system
• Stimulates glucose release
• Constricts blood vessels in skin
• Stimulates secretion of catecholamines
Source: Carlson, 2010

30. Appraisal of stress

31. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
Numberofepisodesperweek
Seethed
Half-seethed

32. Evaluation
• Self-monitoring
• Mindfulness
• Cognitive restructuring
• Relaxation techniques
• Modeling

34. Long-term effects

35. Relapse Prevention

36. Relapse Prevention
• Identifying triggering situations

37. Relapse Prevention
• Identifying triggering situations
• Self-talk

40. Thanks
Gina Turner
and the Health Psychology class
Wellness and Health Promotion,
New School Student Health Services

41. Sources
Carlson, Neil R. (2010). Physiology of behavior, 10th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Myers, David G. (2008). Exploring psychology, 7th ed. New York: Worth.
Remedy Health Media (2013). Don't let anger provoke a heart attack or a stroke. Johns
Hopkins Health Alerts: Hypertension & Stroke.
Taylor, Shelley E. (2012). Health psychology, 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.