Review for Exam 1 – Health Psychology (part 1—Chapters 1 and 2)

Changing pattern of illness

Refers to the shift from infectious diseases as the leading cause of death in 1900 to chronic diseases being predominant in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Biomedical Model

A model that defines health as the absence of disease, focusing on discovering pathology and treating it with drugs and medical technology.

Strengths of Biomedical Model

It provides clear diagnostics and treatments for diseases based on physical findings.

Weaknesses of Biomedical Model

It neglects psychological and social factors that can influence health.

Behavioral Medicine

An interdisciplinary field concerned with developing and integrating behavioral and biomedical sciences.

Independent Variable

In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable

In an experiment, the factor that is measured or observed to assess the impact of the independent variable.

Causal Agent

A factor or condition that is and can be identified as a contributor to the occurrence of a disease.

Risk Factor Approach

A method for determining the relationship and potential causality between a risk factor and a disease.

Behavioral health

the scientific study of behaviors that relate to health enhancement, disease prevention, and rehabilitation.