Chapter 9 – Symptom Perception, Interpretation and Response

What are the two ways illness-related bodily changes can be detected?

By the person themselves (self-noticed) or pointed out by others (other-noticed).

What’s the difference between bodily signs and symptoms?

Signs are objectively observable (e.g., sweating); symptoms are subjectively interpreted experiences (e.g., pain, nausea).

Define illness vs. disease.

Illness = subjective feeling of not being well; Disease = objective pathology diagnosed by a doctor.

What does the Attentional Model emphasize?

Internal (bodily) and external (environmental) cues compete for attention; less attention to the body → fewer symptoms noticed.

What does the Cognitive–Perceptual Model focus on?

How people interpret bodily sensations through selective attention and attribution.

What does the Dual Influence Approach propose?

Symptom perception results from both bottom–up (physical) and top–down (psychological/contextual) influences.

Which four characteristics make a bodily sign more likely seen as illness?

Painful/disruptive, novel, persistent, and related to past illness experience.

What is the Competition of Cues theory?

External focus reduces symptom perception; internal focus or boredom increases it.

What is Brown’s Dual Attentional Systems model?

Primary Attentional System (automatic, schema-based) vs. Secondary Attentional System (conscious evaluation).

What is a nocebo effect?

Harmful effects caused by expecting negative outcomes.

What is neuroticism and how does it affect symptom reporting?

A tendency to experience negative emotions → increased symptom attention and reporting.

What does Self-Categorisation Theory suggest about symptom interpretation?

People interpret symptoms through their current social identity (e.g., athlete, parent).

What are monitors vs. blunters?

Monitors seek information and notice more symptoms; blunters avoid information and delay help-seeking.

What is repressive coping?

Avoiding negative thoughts; reduces symptom reporting but increases health risk.

What are illness prototypes?

Mental models linking symptoms to known illnesses (e.g., “sweats = flu”).

What does the Common-Sense Model explain?

How people make sense of illness and respond through cognitive and emotional representations.

Name the 5 core dimensions of illness representations.

Identity, Consequences, Cause, Timeline, Curability/Controllability.

What is the function of the CSM feedback loop?

If coping fails, individuals revise their beliefs or strategies.

What is a causal attribution?

A belief about what caused an illness or symptom.

What are the three attribution dimensions?

Locus (internal/external), Controllability, Stability.

How can attributions influence health behaviour?

Adaptive attributions motivate healthy changes; inaccurate ones can delay or harm treatment.

What is illness behaviour?

Actions before diagnosis, like self-care or seeking advice.

What is the difference between illness behaviour and sick role behaviour?

Illness behaviour = pre-diagnosis; sick role = post-diagnosis actions toward recovery.

What are the three main individual delay stages?

Appraisal delay, illness delay, and behavioural delay.

Name two system-related delays.

Scheduling delay and treatment delay.

What symptom features reduce delay?

Painful, visible, persistent, or disruptive symptoms.

Which emotional factors can increase delay?

Fear, denial, embarrassment, or anxiety.

What is lay referral?

Consulting friends/family before professionals; can either delay or encourage care.