Unit 3 Health Psychology A1
‘Learners explore psychological approaches, theories and studies related to lifestyle choices,unhealthy
behaviours and behavioural change, linking them to their specific contexts.
How is stress linked to illness?
Why do people become addicted to behaviours or substances?
Which factors influence whether people engage in healthy or unhealthy behaviours?
Health psychology explores the motivation behind healthy and unhealthy behaviours, and the factors that
might persuade individuals to finally change a behaviour or to follow the advice given by medical
professionals.
Define the trm health according to WHO (world health organisation)
● A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just absence of disease
, Biomedical definition of health/ill health
● Views health/illness in terms of physical or biology factors
● Defines illness as a ‘physical disease’ that is diagnosed by a medical professional from a person's symptoms
● The illness is treated (often in hospital) which physical methods such as drugs, or surgery which aim to address the
physical causes and return to pre-illness condition
● Health=‘the absence of illness’ a healthy person is free from disease, pain and disability
● Focus on biological functioning, NOT social (poverty) psychological causes (stress/cognition)
● Very reductionist compared to biopsychosocial which is more holistic
● Dominant view of western cultures
‘Learners explore psychological approaches, theories and studies related to lifestyle choices,unhealthy
behaviours and behavioural change, linking them to their specific contexts.
How is stress linked to illness?
Why do people become addicted to behaviours or substances?
Which factors influence whether people engage in healthy or unhealthy behaviours?
Health psychology explores the motivation behind healthy and unhealthy behaviours, and the factors that
might persuade individuals to finally change a behaviour or to follow the advice given by medical
professionals.
Define the trm health according to WHO (world health organisation)
● A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just absence of disease
, Biomedical definition of health/ill health
● Views health/illness in terms of physical or biology factors
● Defines illness as a ‘physical disease’ that is diagnosed by a medical professional from a person's symptoms
● The illness is treated (often in hospital) which physical methods such as drugs, or surgery which aim to address the
physical causes and return to pre-illness condition
● Health=‘the absence of illness’ a healthy person is free from disease, pain and disability
● Focus on biological functioning, NOT social (poverty) psychological causes (stress/cognition)
● Very reductionist compared to biopsychosocial which is more holistic
● Dominant view of western cultures
