Introduction to General Psychology and Health Concept PDF

Powered by Introduction to General Psychology and Health Concept Psychology is the science that studies human behavior. Knowledge of psychology benefits health professionals. Dentistry professionals should acquire communicative skills from a psychological perspective. Acquisition of knowledge relate...

Powered by Introduction to General Psychology and Health Concept Psychology is the science that studies human behavior. Knowledge of psychology benefits health professionals. Dentistry professionals should acquire communicative skills from a psychological perspective. Acquisition of knowledge related to human behavior is important. Learning aspects of communication, both verbal and non-verbal, in the doctor-patient relationship. Understanding different strategies in various professional-patient situations. Discussion on why studying psychology and communication is important in a Bachelor's Degree. Most pathologies are triggered or influenced by behavior, personality, and beliefs, including dental and buccal diseases. Introduction to the code of ethics for dentists in the EU. Purpose and guiding principles of the dental profession, including promoting oral health and ensuring professional integrity. Respect for patient dignity, autonomy, and choices. Continuous training for health professionals and emphasis on teamwork. Definition of psychology as the discipline focused on the study of human behavior, cognition, emotion, and mental processes. Science as a methodology for obtaining objective and reliable knowledge about nature, behavior, and societies. Behavior as observable and private actions that regulate human life. Definitions and Historical Perspectives of Psychology, Social Psychology, and Health Psychology Social psychology is the study of individual behavior in a social context, influenced by the presence of others. (Allport, 1968) Health psychology focuses on studying health from various psychological perspectives, including promotion, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. (Matarazzo, 1980) Social Psychology of Health is the application of social psychology knowledge to understand health problems and design intervention programs. It incorporates social and psychological principles. (Rodríguez-Marín, 1995) Psychology, including health psychology and social psychology, contributes to the enhancement of the healthcare system and the creation of health policies. Health is challenging to define and is influenced by culture, social class, history, and current situations, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Historical perspectives on health include ancient practices such as trepanation to remove "bad spirits" and concepts of disease as a punishment from the gods. Ancient Greek perspectives on health emphasized balance between bodily humors and the interconnectedness of the body and mind. Galen, a Greek physician in the Roman Empire, further established the roots of illnesses, both physical and mental, in physiological imbalances. Historical Perspectives of Health and Health Models Physiological alterations cause mind alterations, and the mind is not related to the cause of the disease. In ancient times (32), the theories of Hippocrates and Galen lost importance, and there was a return to spirituality and the belief that health was a punishment from God or caused by evil spirits. During the Middle Ages (33), the religious perspective on health persisted, with the Church and priests as protectors. Treatment involved self-punishment, prayer, and abstinence from sin. The Renaissance (34) marked a shift towards understanding health from a scientific perspective, with growth in scholarly and scientific studies. René Descartes introduced the concept of dualism, separating the mind and body as independent entities that can interact. The mechanistic point of view emerged during the Renaissance (35), with the body seen as a machine. Dissections led to a better understanding of illness based on molecular, biological, biochemical, and genetic factors, ultimately leading to the development of the biomedical model. In contemporary times (36), the relevance of the mind in health and illness is recognized. Common pathologies are influenced by behavioral actions and maladaptive cognition. The role of psychology in understanding health and illness is highlighted. Sigmund Freud fought against dualism and proposed that unconscious conflicts could cause physical disturbances in patients with no detectable organic pathology (38). The biopsychosocial model takes into account the role of psychological and social factors in the etiology, course, and outcomes of illness (39). The biomedical model, based on the belief that health is the absence of disease and symptoms, is the prevailing approach (40). It emphasizes reductionism and locating the root cause of illness either outside the body or due to internal changes. Comparison of Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Models of Health Biomedical model: Focuses on physical/biological factors, considers disease as separate from mental phenomena, places no responsibility on the patient's pathology, neglects psychological, social, and cultural aspects, based on hospitalization and acute treatment. Criticisms of Biomedical model: Patients prefer not to take responsibility for their health, prefer taking a pill over lifestyle changes. Biopsychosocial model: Health and illness are a continuous process, health is multidimensional, biology, psychology, socialization, culture, family, and environment all interact, focused on prevention and health promotion. Characteristics of Biopsychosocial model: Recognizes disease without feeling sick, illnessfocused to patient-focused, considers multiple aspects in diagnosis, doctor-patient relationship involves understanding the patient's life and context. Health definition: WHO defines health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease. Aims within the healthcare context: Health promotion, health education, disease prevention, functional rehabilitation, job reinsertion. Healthcare context: Focuses on providing tools to people, promoting and preventing rather than simply treating, encourages an active vision of health and disease. Criticism of health trends: The promotion of certain lifestyle choices becoming a moral imperative, imposes ideology and discriminates against those who do not follow it. The Wellness Syndrome and Psychology Pressure to maximize wellness can have negative effects on our well-being, leading to guilt, distress, anxiety, and depression. The social pressure on health and disease plays a role in shaping our understanding of wellness. Happiness Video 2 showcases the impact of society on our health and the importance of understanding human behavior and social psychology. Psychology uses empirical methods, such as data collection, analysis, and interpretation, to answer questions about human behavior and health. The scientific method in psychology includes inductive, deductive, and abductive approaches to generate knowledge. Research designs in psychology include descriptive, correlational, and experimental methods, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Types of Research Studies: Empirical and Theoretical Empirical studies involve experimental and non-experimental methods to test hypotheses and examine the causal relationship between variables. Non-experimental methods include observational studies, survey studies, and qualitative studies, but the researcher does not control all variables. Experimental methods involve manipulating the independent variable and measuring the dependent variable to establish causation. Correlation does not imply causation; it only measures the linear relationship between variables. Theoretical studies involve a rigorous search for information, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis for summarizing empirical evidence. Methods to Summarize Psychology and Social Psychology Studies Has this information changed your conception of Psychology? How? Do you think that the knowledge derived from Psychology and Social Psychology could be desirable in the current health context? How was your experience when you have visited the physician? Do you think he/she followed a biomedical or biopsychological approach?