Health Psychology Unit 1

What is health?

Health means feeling good physically, mentally, and socially — not just being free from sickness.

Determinants (factors) of health

• Biology & Genetics

• Individual Behavior

• Social Factors

• Physical Environment

• Health Services

• Policy

The world health org (WHO) defines health as

a state of complete, physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

The Biomedical Model

A way of understanding health and illness that focuses only on the biological and physical aspects of disease.

• such as age, gender, and genetics

• It sees illness as something wrong with the body (like infection, injury, or chemical imbalance).

• It doesn’t really consider social, psychological, or environmental factors.

• The goal is to diagnose, treat, and cure the disease, usually with medicine, surgery, or other medical procedures.

Biological components

• genes

• race/ethnicity

• biological age

• biological sex/gender

• physiological sensitivity

• immune response

• infection agents

• environmental toxins (interacts w your gene expression)

Psychological components

• Behavior (adaption & maintenance)

• Emotional (feelings)

• Cognition (thoughts, beliefs, and attitude)

• Personality (characteristic ways of thinking and feeling)

• Stress

Social components

• Family relationships

• Culture influences

• Generational differences

• Education (includes health education)

• Social support

• Medical care

• Pollution control

Biopsychosocial Model

• Looks at body, mind, and social factors together.

• such as stress, economic satus, and cultural influences

• Illness = mix of physical, mental, and social causes.

• Treatment focuses on the whole person, not just the body.

Critical thinking

• a questioning approach to all information and arguements

• doesn’t blindly accept conclusions

• examines all underlying assumptions

• evaluates evidence

• questions sources and possible ulterior motives

• considers alternative explanations

Scientific method

• used to explore the relationship between variables

A Theory

• A detailed explanation that has been tested many times and never shown to be false

• It causes testable predictions (hypotheses)

Testable Hypotheses

• more than educated guess

• A precise testable prediction about the relationship between two variables

Research

• a test collecting data to support or refute a hypothesis

systematic

having a plan before the investigation starts

precision

Data collected carefully

Unbiased/objective

• Look at the results without letting personal opinions get in the way. Only use what the data shows.

• “lets the facts speak for themselves”

unscientific thinking

• leaping to untested conclusions

• faulty reasoning

• ignoring alternative explanations in the face of our own expectation

belief bias

• judging an argument based on what you already believe, not on logic

• example: “I believe all natural foods are safe, so this new herbal supplement must be safe,” even without proof

confirmation bias

• only noticing information that supports what you believe

• Example: Thinking your team is the best, so you only read good news about them

Epidemiology

• The study of how diseases spread, who they affect, and how to control or prevent them

Epidemiologist

• Informs public about origins of disease

• determines impact on prior generations

• determines potential risk of disease to current and future populations

Morality (death)

• the number of cases a specific disease, illness, or disability in a given group of people at a given time

Morbidity (sickness)

• the number of people that are living with a disease or health problem

Incidence

• the new number of cases of a disease or condition that occurs in a specific population with in a defined time interval

• ex: rapid increase od HIV cases in siberia

Prevalence

• The total number (old and new) of diagnosed cases of a disease or condition that exist at a given time

• ex: total number of HIV cases in siberia

Retrospective study

• when researchers look back at past data to find patterns or connections

Prospective study

• a longitudinal study that follows people into the future to see what happens

Descriptive study

• A type of research that simply describes what is happening in a group without trying to test cause and effect

• answers questions like “what, who, where, and when but not why”

• examples case studies, surveys, interviews, and naturalistic observations

Correlational studies

• examines the relationship between two variables

• can not show cause and effect

correlation coefficient (r)

• r= +1 → perfect positive correlation

• r = -1 → perfect negative correlation

• r = 0 → no correlation

• Numbers closer to 1 or -1 mean a stronger relationship.

• Numbers closer to 0 mean a weaker relationship.

Experimental study

• when researchers test cause and effect between x and y

• disadvantages: cost and many variables can not be experimentally manipulated

Null hypothesis

• the idea that there is no effect or no difference in an experiment or study

Independent variable (x)

The thing the researcher changes or controls

Dependent variable (y)

The thing that is measured

Experimental group

The group that gets the treatment or change

Control group

The group that does not get the treatment and stays normal

random sample

• how researchers choose people from a larger population

• everyone has equal chance of being picked

• Purpose: to make sure the study group represents the population

• example: Picking 100 students at random from a whole school to survey

Random Assignment

• Happens after you already have your sample

• How researchers put participants into groups

• Everyone had an equal chance of being in any group

  • Purpose: to make sure groups are fair and balanced

Quasi Experiments

• A study where the groups are already different at the start.

• Groups are not randomly assigned

Example:

• Class A has mostly high-achieving students.

• Class B has mostly average students.
  If you test a new teaching method, Class A might do better not because of the method, but because the students were already stronger to start with.

Central NS

The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

The sensory/motor nerve fibers that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Somatic NS

• links the CNS with skeletal muscles

• voluntary muscles such as jumping, walking, and chewing

Autonomic NS

• Links the CNS with internal organs

• Involuntary organs such as heart, reflexes, and hiccups

Sympathetic nervous system

• division of the autonomic NS

• arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Parasympathetic NS

• division of the autonomic NS

• calms the body, conserving its energy

The nervous system

• The body’s speed, electrochemical communication system

• Network of interconnected nerve cells/ nerve fibers

Sensory

input to the brain/ spinal cord

motor

output from the brain/spinal cord to muscles and organs

Interneurons

transmit impulses between other neurons

The brain

• is made up of 86 - 100 billion nerve cells (called neurons)

• ten times as many support cells (called glia)

Neurons three task

1. Receive information from other neurons

2. Carries information down its length

3. Passes information to next neuron in line

Brain communication = Electrochemical

• Electrical: Messages travel through neurons as tiny electrical signals.

• Chemical: Neurons pass messages to each other using chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Chart

Brain chemistry

• Neurons are separated by a space (synapse)

Neurotransmitter

• a chemical messenger in the brain.

• It carries signals from one nerve cell to another, helping control things like mood, movement, and memory.

The brain

Hindbrain

• cerebellum

• medulla

• pons

Cerebellum

• Helps coordinate voluntary muscle movements

• maintenance of balance

• involved in emotional control, communication of sensory info

Medulla

• controls heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing

Pons

• Link between the hindbrain and the midbrain

• helps control breathing

• controls the sleep wake cycle

The midbrain

• pathway between hindbrain and forebrain

• coordination of visual and auditory reflexes

substantia nigra

• in the midbrain

• neuroransmitter dopamine

• attention, memory, and problem solving

  

Superior colliculus

• in the midbrain

• receives input from the retina and the visual cortex

Limbic System (forebrain)

• Neural structures at the border of the brainstem (hindbrain & midbrain) and cerebral hemispheres

• associated with emotions like fear and aggravation

• controls certain drives like food and sex

Amygdala (LS)

• neural clusters that are components of the limbic system

• linked to emotions

• emotional memories

Hippocampus (LS)

• Involved in cognitive processes such as

  • spatial orientation (where)

  • learning

  • new memory

  • you would remember if you seen a hippo on campus

Hypothalamus (LS)

• neural structure lying below the thalamus

• directs several maintenance activities

  • eating

  • drinking

  • body temperature

• helps govern the endocrine system and the pituitary gland

• is linked to the brains reward system

The cerebral cortex

• Fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemisphere

• the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

• divided into 4 lobes

Frontal lobes

• making plans and judgements

• contains the motor cortex

• muscle movements

• speech production

parietal lobes

• includes the sensory cortex

• receives information from skin and body

• involved in representing space/your relationship in it

Occipital lobe

• Includes the visual areas which receive visual information from the opposite visual field

Temporal lobe

• Includes the auditory areas

• retention of visual memories

• major role in speech comprehension

The endocrine system (master control system)

• slow chemical communication system

• a set of glands → secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Hormones

• chemical messengers

• produced:

  • by the the endocrine glands

  • in one tissue and affect another

Adrenal glands

• located above the kidneys

• adrenal medulla: secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine

• norepinephrine helps to arouse the body in times of stress

• adrenal cortex: secretes cortisol and helps to reduce swelling/inflammation

Cortisol

• helps the body recover by repairing damage and reducing inflammation

• works with the parasympathetic NS to restore homeostasis

chronic cortisol release

• when your body keeps pumping out the stress hormone cortisol for a long time

• weakens immune system

• can cause cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer,, pain, fatigue, and depression

• can also affect cognitive functioning, including memory

pituitary gland

• under the influence of the hypothalamus

• regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Hypothalamus

• controls hormones and basic body functions

• Pituitary gland secretes ACTH (adrenocortitropic hormone)

• ACTH binds the adrenal cortex to make cortisol

Thyroid gland

• produces thyroxin

• helps regulate growth and metabolism

• hormones secreted by parathyroid glands regulate level or calcium in the body

Pancreas

• glycogen increases the concentration of glucose in the body

• insulin controls the conversion if sugar and carbohydrates into energy = decrease sugar levels

Cushing’s syndrome

A condition caused by too much cortisol in the body.
Symptoms:

• Weight gain (especially belly/face)

• High blood pressure

• Weak muscles

• Fragile skin / easy bruising

• Mood changes (anxiety/depression)

• High blood sugar

Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1:

• Body can’t make insulin (autoimmune)

• Usually starts in childhood/teen years

• Needs insulin shots

Type 2:

• Body can’t use insulin properly (insulin resistance)

• Usually starts in adults

• Can often be managed with diet, exercise, and meds

Osteoporosis

• A condition where bones become weak and brittle.

  Causes/Risk Factors:

  • Low calcium or vitamin D

  • Aging (especially in postmenopausal women)

  • Certain medications or medical conditions

Effects:

• Higher risk of fractures

• Loss of height or posture changes

Cells

smallest building blocks of life

Tissues

groups of cells working together

organs

groups of tissues working together

Hypothyroidism

• Thyroid makes too little hormone.

• Body slows down.

• Symptoms: Tired, weight gain, feeling cold, slow heart rate.

Hyperthyroidism

• Thyroid makes too much hormone.

• Body speeds up.

• Symptoms: Nervousness, weight loss, feeling hot, fast heart rate.

Similarities between norepinephrine and epinephrine

• Both are hormones & neurotransmitters.

• Both are released during stress (“fight or flight”).

• Both increase heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness.

Differences between norepinephrine and epinephrine

• Epinephrine (Adrenaline):

  • Stronger effect on the heart (increases heart rate, blood flow).

  • Released mostly from the adrenal glands into the bloodstream.

• Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline):

  • Stronger effect on blood vessels (tightens them, raises blood pressure).

  • Works more as a neurotransmitter in the brain, keeping you alert.

cytokine

• a tiny protein that helps cells in your immune system talk to each other.

• They act like messenger signals: telling immune cells when to start fighting germs, calm down, or heal.

• Different cytokines can cause inflammation, fever, or healing responses.