Health Psychology Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which of these best describes the main focus of health psychology?

  • Providing medical care to individuals within health institutions.
  • Treating patients with severe illnesses.
  • Understanding the psychological factors influencing health and illness. (correct)
  • Focusing solely on the physical aspects of disease.

According to health psychologists, what constitutes 'health'?

  • The ability to perform daily routine tasks without fatigue.
  • The absence of any physical disease or ailment.
  • An individual's perceived wellness level.
  • A balance among physical, mental, and social well-being. (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a typical area of study for a health psychologist?

  • Prescribing medication for mental health disorders. (correct)
  • Investigating the origins or causes of disease.
  • Developing public health campaigns to promote regular exercise.
  • Analyzing and trying to improve healthcare systems.

What does the term 'etiology' refer to within the context of health psychology?

<p>The origins or causes of illness. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A health psychologist creates an intervention to help people manage stress. Which aspect of health psychology does this best represent?

<p>Health promotion and maintenance. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these would a health psychologist investigate concerning people's behavior?

<p>The role of seat belt use in accident prevention. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one way health psychologists might contribute to the health care system?

<p>By analyzing the effects of the health institutions on behavior. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The concept of 'wellness' in health psychology emphasizes what key idea?

<p>An optimal state of health involving mental, physical, and social well-being. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a primary focus of health psychology?

<p>Administering vaccinations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the puzzles that health psychology seeks to understand?

<p>Why some people get colds while others do not when exposed to the same virus. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The text states that, compared to men, women generally experience which of the following?

<p>More disabilities and use of health services. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the prominent cause of illness and death in the United States prior to the rise of chronic disorders?

<p>Infectious diseases. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In prehistoric times, how was disease primarily viewed?

<p>As the entry of evil spirits into the body. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main belief of the ancient Greeks regarding the cause of disease?

<p>That disease was due to an imbalance of humors in the body. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During the Middle Ages, how was disease usually explained?

<p>As a punishment from God for evildoing. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What approach to disease and healing became prominent during the Renaissance?

<p>A focus on cellular pathology and organic factors. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the biomedical model in understanding illness?

<p>Aberrant somatic processes, such as neurophysiological malfunctions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a major limitation of the biomedical model?

<p>It largely ignores psychological and social influences on health. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the ancient Greeks believe about the relationship between the four humors and personality?

<p>Each of the four humors was associated with a particular personality type. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which advancement played a significant role in moving away from the humoral theory of illness?

<p>The invention of the microscope and the science of autopsy. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the church influence medical practice during the Middle Ages?

<p>By integrating religious duties, penance, and healing practices. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What shift occurred in the understanding of disease between prehistoric times and the time of the ancient Greeks?

<p>A movement away from supernatural explanations to natural ones. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the holes found in Stone Age skulls in the context of health psychology?

<p>They are evidence of early attempts to release evil spirits deemed to cause illness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Health Psychology

A field that studies the relationship between psychology and physical health.

Health (WHO Definition)

The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not simply the absence of disease or infirmity.

Wellness

The optimal state of health, characterized by balance and well-being in all aspects of life.

Health Promotion

The study and promotion of healthy behaviors and habits.

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Illness Prevention and Treatment

The psychological aspects of preventing and treating illness.

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Etiology of Illness

The study of the origins and causes of illness, particularly the behavioral and social factors involved.

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Health Care System Analysis

The analysis and improvement of the healthcare system and policy.

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Behavioral and Social Factors in Health

Factors like alcohol consumption, drug use, exercise, seat belt use, and stress management that influence health outcomes.

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Humoral Theory

The idea that the body's four humors (blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm) must be balanced for optimal health.

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Prehistoric View of Disease

The belief that illnesses are caused by evil spirits entering the body.

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Biomedical Model

The perspective that illness can be explained solely by physical factors, like biochemical imbalances or neurological abnormalities.

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Torture as Therapy

The use of torture to expel evil forces believed to cause illness.

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Shift in Disease Patterns

The transition from infectious diseases like tuberculosis to chronic conditions like heart disease as leading causes of death.

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Religion and Health

The idea that participating in religious activities can positively affect health.

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Marriage and Longevity

The observation that married men tend to live longer than unmarried men.

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Life Expectancy Trends

The observation that life expectancy is increasing globally, but can decrease during social upheaval.

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Gender Differences in Health

The observation that women live longer than men in most countries, but experience more disabilities and chronic illnesses.

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Risk Factors

Factors that contribute to illness, such as psychological stress or social isolation.

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Mind-Body Connection

The concept that the mind and body directly influence each other.

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Protective Factors

Factors that promote health, such as strong social networks and positive thinking.

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Advances in Medicine

The development of new medical technologies and techniques over time.

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Puzzles in Health

The field of health psychology aims to answer many questions about health and well-being that traditional medicine struggles to explain.

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Study Notes

Health Psychology Overview

  • Health psychology studies psychological influences on health, illness, and responses to illness.
  • It seeks to understand why people develop habits like smoking and develop interventions to help them quit.
  • Health is defined as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.
  • Health psychologists promote health by encouraging good habits like exercise, improved diet, and media campaigns.
  • They study prevention and treatment of illnesses like stress management techniques.
  • They investigate illness origins (etiology) and factors like alcohol, drug use, exercise, and stress coping mechanisms.
  • Health psychologists work to improve the health care system and related policies.

Development of Health Psychology

  • Health is often seen as a matter of physical well-being or quick recovery without acknowledging psychological & social factors.
  • Health psychology addresses factors contributing to illness disparities:
    • Why some exposed to a cold virus get sick and others don't?
    • Why married men tend to live longer.
    • Why life expectancy rises in some regions but plummets in others due to social upheaval.
    • Health disparities between men and women regarding longevity and illness prevalence.
    • Shift from infectious to chronic illnesses as major causes of death/disability in the US.
    • Positive health benefits associated with spiritual practices.

Mind-Body Relationship Throughout History

  • Prehistoric cultures often attributed illness to evil spirits requiring exorcism.
  • Ancient Greeks developed the humoral theory of illness associating illness with imbalances of bodily fluids (blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm). They recognized mental and emotional factors impacting health.
  • Middle Ages saw illness as God's punishment, and treatment focused on penance or religious practices.
  • Renaissance saw advancements in medical techniques & understanding of anatomy. Advancements including microscopes and autopsies.

Biomedical Model

  • Biomedical model, prevailing for 300 years, attributes illnesses to physical bodily malfunctions (e.g. biochemical imbalances or neurophysiological abnormalities).
  • It downplays psychological and social influences on health and illness.

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