Midterm 1 Flashcards
What is health psychology?
The application of psychological principles to the diagnosis and treatment of illness as well as to people’s attempt to maintain health and well-being
How has the field of health psychology evolved?
- the main cause of death went from infectious disease to lifestyle diseases
- went from a micro to macro perspective, we have a better understanding on why it has grown
- we need to look at problems holistically
Why has health psychology grown so quickly?
Explain the bidirectional relationship between psychological health and physical health
The body and mind are interconnected
Some kind of emotional reaction can also accompany physical injury
ex: ankle sprain during the gymnastics season
ex: Sad about a break up - experience physiological symptoms (stomach ache/headache)
What is behavioural medicine?
A branch of medicine concerned with the relationship between health and behavior
What are the early stages of health psychology development?
- Behaviourism (N.Miller)
- Cognition and personality (Krantz)
- Coping Styles (Miller)
- Psychoimmunology (Cohen and Hebert)
What is behaviourism and how did it help develop health psychology?
Miller developed biomedical perspective on illness to the germ theory - did not look at any other issues (psychology, social)
Biomedical perspective took off - our health if affected by what we do not what we think
What is the gradient of reinforcement?
The gradual weakening of a behaviour the further it gets in time from the reinforcement of that behaviour
ex: when we exercise we do not suddenly get fit - benefit takes time
What is delayed gratification?
A term used by behaviourists to describe a situation where there is a time lag between a behaviour and its reinforcement
complience rates are higher for regimens that cause a rapid reduction in symptoms
can be used to explain why more people will follow instructions while taking an anti-biotic for ear infection than exercise for hypertension
What is psychoneuroimmunology?
the relationship between psychological state and immune system
What is a monitor?
A coping style for information seekers
what is a blunter?
A coping style for information avoiders
What is the biopsychosocial approach?
a model that suggests biological, psychological and social factors are all involved in any given state or illness
Why is the biopsychosocial approach important?
Some life-threatening conditions are preventable and can be influenced by lifestyle changes
Demands communication among health care workers and social scientists
Explain the health belief model
Assumes that health beliefs best explain health behaviours
What are the two types of beliefs that make you think that a course of action will reduce a threat
Response efficacy belief and cost-gain belief
What is the response efficacy belief?
The perception that a threat-reducing strategy will work
ex: if you believe the flu shot will protect you, you will get the flu shot
What is the cost-gain belief?
Assessment of cost associated with course of action and its benefit to personal health
ex: will driving to the pharmacy + spending money on the flu shot be worse than the actual flu
Need to believe a health threat exists
What is the theory of reasoned action?
Assumes that behaviour is the result of intention, which is affected by one’s beliefs and motivation
What are the two main sources of intention according to the theory of reasoned action?
- Attitudes towards the behavior (as we get older, we become more concerned with cancer screening)
- Subjective norms (we make decisions based on the values/opinions of the people around us)
What is the Theory of Planned behavior?
Assumes health behaviour is the result of intention
What are the three main sources of intention according to the theory of planned behavior?
- Attitudes towards the behaviour
- Subjective norms
- Percieved behavioural control (specific behaviors are in one’s control)
What are the two behavioural enaction models?
Gollwitzer’s implementation intention model and Bagozzi’s goal theory
Explain Gollwitzer’s Implementation Intention Model
People who have an implementation plan are more likely to engage in the behaviour
