Chapter 13

Stress and Crisis in RelationshipsKey Terms

• Stress– A reaction of the body to substantial or

unusual demands (environmental, physical, or interpersonal) made on it.

• Crisis– A crucial situation that requires changes

in normal patterns of behavior.

• Resiliency– Refers to a family’s strengths and ability

to respond to a crisis in a positive way.

• Biofeedback– A process in which information that is

relayed back to the brain enables a person to change his or her biological functioning.

• Neurofeedback – Trains people to enhance their brain-

wave functioning and has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, stress, depression, tension and migraine headaches, addictions, and high blood pressure.

• Palliative care– The health care of the individual who has

a life-threatening illness and support for them and their loved ones.

• Extramarital affair– Refers to the emotional and sexual

involvement of a spouse with someone other than the mate.

• Extradyadic involvement– Refers to all pair-bonded individuals who

are emotionally and sexually involved with someone other than the partner.

• Coolidge Effect– A term used to describe the waning of

sexual excitement and the effect of novelty and variety on sexual arousal.