Lecture 11 - Psychological Factors and Physical Illness

Question 1

History of psych factors and illness

Answer 1

Psychosomatic Medicine. Was believed that certain personalities were more prone to illness.

Question 2

Emergence of new fields:

Answer 2

Behavioural Medicine
- interdisciplinary
Health psychology
- focuses on psychology.

Question 3

Stress:

Answer 3

Requires psychological cognitive or behavioural adaptation.

Question 4

What is the Response Model of Stress?

Answer 4

Views stress as a reaction to stimuli.

• Alarm
• Resistance
• Exhaustion - this third component is most related to health.

Doesn’t explain why people respond to things differently. Doesn’t mention early appraisal.

Question 5

Stimulus Model:

Answer 5

Stress defined in terms of stimuli or events assumed to influence most people similarly.
Measured using stressful life events (based on norms etc.) Operationalise stress according to “life change units”.

Question 6

Transactional Model or Stress and Coping Model:

Answer 6

Stress occurs when it perceived to exceed one's adaptive resources.
Primary appraisal (is is stressful) and secondary appraisal (control, self-efficacy). Linked to adjustment and event outcome and coping strategies. Coping strategies: Problem focused or emotion focused.
Coping resources can be either internal or external.