Health Psychology: Introduction (Video)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Health Psychology concepts from the lecture notes (Pages 1–3).

Biomedical model

Illness is biological in origin; mind and body are treated as separate; causes are biological; treatment by medical professionals; psychology observes consequences but not causes.

Mind-body dualism

Belief that mind and body are separate; under traditional biomedical view, psychological factors are not causal in illness.

Psychosomatic medicine

20th-century approach recognizing psychological factors can contribute to the causes of illness, not just its effects; early examples include Freud's hysterical paralysis.

Behavioral medicine

An interdisciplinary field combining behavioral sciences with health care, focusing on treatment and prevention; uses behavior therapy and behavior modification and challenges mind-body dualism.

Etiology

The study of the causes of illness; in health psychology, causes are multiple (biological, psychological, social).

Biopsychosocial Model

Health and illness result from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors; includes direct and indirect pathways and a continuum view of health.

Health as a continuum

Health and illness are on a spectrum rather than a simple binary state.

Direct pathway

Psychological factors or stress directly cause illness without intermediate processes.

Indirect pathway

Psychological factors influence health by altering behaviors (e.g., smoking, treatment adherence) that lead to illness.

Illness onset

Stage when illness first begins or symptoms emerge.

Illness adaptation

Process of adjusting to illness, including help-seeking, coping, pain management, and social support.

Illness outcomes

End results of illness such as quality of life, longevity, and adherence to treatment.

Stay Well

A theoretical approach highlighting health beliefs, benefits of health behaviors, and proactive strategies to stay well.

Social Cognition Model

Model describing how social information processing influences health beliefs, decisions, and behaviors.

Stage Model

Model outlining stages of behavior change in health behaviors (e.g., precontemplation to maintenance).

Integrated Model

A synthesis of multiple theories to predict and influence health behaviors by combining elements from several models.

Becoming ill

Process by which a person becomes ill, integrating biological, psychological, and social factors.

Self-regulating Model

Model focusing on how individuals regulate health behaviors through goals, monitoring, and feedback.

Diagnosis as decision making

View of diagnosis as a decision process involving evaluation of symptoms, tests, and patient input.

Transactional model of stress

Theory viewing stress as a dynamic interaction between person and environment, involving appraisal and coping.

Psychosocial model of pain

Pain is influenced by psychological and social factors in addition to biology, affecting coping and disability.

Quality of life

Broad measure of well-being and functioning impacted by illness and treatment.

Clinical health psychologist

Health psychologist trained for clinical practice; ethical practice, research, teaching, interventions; health promotion.

Community health psychologist

Focuses on community context, government policies, access to care; conducts evaluation and implements community health interventions.

Academic health psychologist

Focuses on teaching and research; publishes studies and supervises student research.