Health Psychology

Question 1

Health psychology can be defined as…

Answer 1

the focus on how biology, psychology, behavior, and social factors influence health and illness.

Question 2

what is the role of the health psychologist?

Answer 2

To promote:

• maintenance of health
• prevention and management of illness
• identifying psychological factors contributing to physical illness
• improvement of the healthcare system
• formulation of health policy

Question 3

what issues do health psychologist address?

Answer 3

chronic illness
factors influencing health eating
link between stress and heart disease 
why medication is not taken by patients
improvement of health service delivery

Question 4

the main aim of health psychology is to..

Answer 4

illness prevention and health promotion

Question 5

where do health/clinical psychologist work?

Answer 5

Hospital/Clinics.
Community/Rehabilitation centres
Industry (Occupational Health)
NHS – public health/health promotion
Government agencies
Academic Institutions

Question 6

where do health psychologist work?

Answer 6

Hospital/Clinics.
Community/Rehabilitation centres
Industry (Occupational Health)
NHS – public health/health promotion
Government agencies
Academic Institutions

Question 7

what is the line-span perspective?

Answer 7

An approach in which a person is considered in the context of their prior development, current development, and likely future development.

Question 8

what are some examples of psychological factors that affect behavior?

Answer 8

cognition, emotion and coping styles

Question 9

Illness can be acute or ____

Answer 9

chronic

Question 10

the two type of acute illnesses are:

Answer 10

rapid onset

short duration

Question 11

clinical psychology involves…

Answer 11

• Assessment.
• Clinical research.
• Provide therapy - treatment intervention e.g. psychotherapy/counselling.
• Rehabilitation.
• Teaching

Question 12

what are the symptoms/characteristics of a chronic illness?

Answer 12

• persists for a long period
• residual physical or cognitive impairment
• condition may fluctuate
• increase in lifespan has led to increase in chronic illness

Question 13

who do clinical psychologists work with? (clients)

Answer 13

Abnormal Psychology cases
neurological disorders
brain injury
learning difficulties

Question 14

what examines the nature and development of abnormal: behavior, thoughts and feelings?

Answer 14

Psychopathology

Question 15

Define: statistical infrequency

Answer 15

rare behaviors are abnormal

Question 16

Definition of ‘Defiant’

Answer 16

proposes that abnormal behaviour is relative to societal/cultural norm

Question 17

what are the common themes of clinical and health psychologists?

Answer 17

1. both work with similar patient groups
2. similar work settings
3. main aim: improve wellbeing and QoL
4. both use treatment interventions to achieve this
5. Use psychometric tests:
   - to assess
   - to diagnose
   - to measure the success of treatment intervention

Question 18

‘Distress’ definition

Answer 18

proposes that behaviors that are accompanied by distress are abnormal

Question 19

‘Disability/Dysfunction’ in Abnormality

Answer 19

proposes that impairment of life function can be a component of abnormal behavior

Question 20

‘Unexpectedness’ in abnormaility

Answer 20

asks whether the responses of a person to an environmental stressor are appropriate