Open-ended practice questions
Health & Medical Psychology
1. What is the difference between the humoral theory of illness and Galen’s theory of
illness?
2. According to Piaget, as children move through different ages, they also gain new
perspectives on illness. Explain how Bibace and Walsh explored this development by
incorporating the illness concept in the phases.
3. Why do women have an overall higher life expectancy worldwide? Give two
reasons.
4. What are three personality trait factors that influence dependence?
5. How can exercise counter stress responses and enhance your mood?
6. What are the two broad purposes of health screening?
7. What is the difference between a mediator and a moderator when it comes to
disease?
8. Explain how the three main components of the Theory of Planned Behavior work
together.
9. What are the three variables of the PRECEDE model that can be a target of any
intervention?
10. Stress-inoculation training teaches patients to cope with stressors. What are the
three focal points patients are taught to focus on when facing a stressful event?
11. What do third-wave therapies believe about our reaction to distressing stimuli?
12. What are the five core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
13. What is the difference between the functions of the thalamus and hypothalamus?
14. Which three types of cells are manufactured by stem cells in the bone marrow?
15. What is atherosclerosis?
, 16. Stress can be seen as a psychological transaction between a stimulus event and the
individual. Explain this by using the concepts of primary and secondary appraisal.
17. Explain the reactivity hypothesis of stress
18. Conscientiousness, extraversion, and dispositional optimism have all been shown to
have different effect on coping. Which type of coping is each of these trait factors
likely to have?
19. What is the difference between hope, self-efficacy, and optimism?
20. The effect of a stressor on the body is influenced by three factors of the stressors.
What are these three factors?
21. What are the five consistent themes of illness representation?
22. What are the six components of the SPIKES model?
23. Explain how experiencing hospitalization may be linked to the crisis theory.
24. What are the three stages families have been shown to go through when a family
member falls ill?
25. Explain the specificity theory of pain
26. Explain the neuromatrix theory of pain
27. Virtual gaming has been found to have an effect on the amount of pain experienced.
How can this be explained through the gate control theory of pain?
28. How can relaxation influence pain reduction in the short term?
Health & Medical Psychology
1. What is the difference between the humoral theory of illness and Galen’s theory of
illness?
2. According to Piaget, as children move through different ages, they also gain new
perspectives on illness. Explain how Bibace and Walsh explored this development by
incorporating the illness concept in the phases.
3. Why do women have an overall higher life expectancy worldwide? Give two
reasons.
4. What are three personality trait factors that influence dependence?
5. How can exercise counter stress responses and enhance your mood?
6. What are the two broad purposes of health screening?
7. What is the difference between a mediator and a moderator when it comes to
disease?
8. Explain how the three main components of the Theory of Planned Behavior work
together.
9. What are the three variables of the PRECEDE model that can be a target of any
intervention?
10. Stress-inoculation training teaches patients to cope with stressors. What are the
three focal points patients are taught to focus on when facing a stressful event?
11. What do third-wave therapies believe about our reaction to distressing stimuli?
12. What are the five core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
13. What is the difference between the functions of the thalamus and hypothalamus?
14. Which three types of cells are manufactured by stem cells in the bone marrow?
15. What is atherosclerosis?
, 16. Stress can be seen as a psychological transaction between a stimulus event and the
individual. Explain this by using the concepts of primary and secondary appraisal.
17. Explain the reactivity hypothesis of stress
18. Conscientiousness, extraversion, and dispositional optimism have all been shown to
have different effect on coping. Which type of coping is each of these trait factors
likely to have?
19. What is the difference between hope, self-efficacy, and optimism?
20. The effect of a stressor on the body is influenced by three factors of the stressors.
What are these three factors?
21. What are the five consistent themes of illness representation?
22. What are the six components of the SPIKES model?
23. Explain how experiencing hospitalization may be linked to the crisis theory.
24. What are the three stages families have been shown to go through when a family
member falls ill?
25. Explain the specificity theory of pain
26. Explain the neuromatrix theory of pain
27. Virtual gaming has been found to have an effect on the amount of pain experienced.
How can this be explained through the gate control theory of pain?
28. How can relaxation influence pain reduction in the short term?
