Final answer:
Negative health outcomes from high situational avoidance occur due to prolonged physiological responses to stress, heightened reactivity from chronic stressors such as discrimination, and psychological impacts from concepts like learned helplessness. Social support and coping strategies can mitigate but not erase the health impact of chronic stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The effects of high situational avoidance leading to negative mental and physical health outcomes are thought to occur through various mechanisms. The fight or flight response to high-arousal situations, which in our modern world are often psychological rather than physical, leads to physiological systems being turned on for extended periods.
This can result in an increased susceptibility to conditions like heart disease and a weakened immune system. Experiences of uncontrollable stressors, such as discrimination, evoke a stress response that, when chronic, can lead to heightened reactivity and consequential health depletion, including depression and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the concept of learned helplessness demonstrates how a lack of perceived control can result in profound psychological consequences.
Neuroscientific research, such as that conducted by Sapolsky and Shively on non-human primates, emphasizes how social hierarchy influences stress, mental health, and disease. Additionally, the impacts of stress can be influenced by factors like social support and coping strategies, which can buffer some of the negative consequences.