Psychological perspectives on health and illness Flashcards
What is the definition of psychology?
Formal study of the mind and behaviour
Conclusions are based on systematic observation and experiment
Experiments allow for causative definitions rather than correlational
What is health psychology?
Understanding of the psychological influences on health and illness and people’s behaviours in response to illness
This is a relatively new field of psychology, concerned with all aspects of health and illness across the lifespan
What is Matarazzo’s (1980) definition of health psychology?
“Health psychology is the aggregate of the specific educational, scientific and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, the identification of aetiologic and diagnostic correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction and the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation
Why do we need health psychology?
Mind-body relationship (psychological and social factors also influential factors in health and illness)
What are the goals of Health Psychology?
- To promote and maintain health (e.g. stop smoking, buckle belts)
- To prevent and treat illness (e.g. reduce High Blood Pressure)
- To focus on cause and detection of illness: influence of personality, cognitive processes
- To improve the health care system/ health policy
What illnesses are related to Psychological/Behavioural factors?
- Heart disease/ stroke
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- COPD
- Type II diabetes
- Poor birth outcomes
- Chronic pain conditions
- Infectious illnesses
What is clinical/ abnormal psychology?
Study of psychological illness including neurotic, psychotic annd personality disorders, and drug dependence
What is developmental psychology?
Study of intellectual, social and emotional development from infancy to adulthood
What is neuropsychology?
Study of relationship between behaviour and neurology
What is social psychology?
Study of interaction between individuals (verbal + non verbal communication, attitudes, group processes)
What is cognitive psychology?
Study of human information processing (e.g. perception, attention, memory, intelligence)
What is occupational psychology?
Psychology in the workplace
How does health psychology contribute to clinical practice?
Health psychologists:
- Help measure/assess for mental and behavioural problems
- Conduct clinical interviews
- Administer surveys and personality tests
- Design interventions to help:
- With stress management
- Educate about disease and illness
- Ways to cope with disease
- Perform more health behaviours such as physical activity
