Health Psychology
Critical Concepts
(Remember that these are only my notes – the content does not belong to me and all ideas
belong to their original creators)
Health - A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an
absence of disease
Health Psychology - Health psychology uses knowledge of psychology and health to
promote general well-being. They also understand the impact of psychology on physical
illness.
A field of psychology that ….
o Promotes Health and Prevents Illness
o Research
o Improve Healthcare
o Change at the individual and social lens
It focuses on key influences of health
o which include influencing one’s lifestyle
o helping people follow doctors orders (also called adherence)
o and it also engages in prevention at the social level
Health Psychologist:
o Specially trained to help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of
health and illness
o Supporting people who are chronically ill.
They promote healthier lifestyles and try to find ways to encourage people to improve
their health.
o For example, they may help people to lose weight or stop smoking.
Health psychologists also use their skills to try to improve the healthcare system.
o For example, they may advise doctors about better ways to communicate with their
patients.
To become a Health Psychologist:
• Complete a BPS degree followed by post-graduate education of Stage 1 as a Health
Psychologist
Critical Concepts
(Remember that these are only my notes – the content does not belong to me and all ideas
belong to their original creators)
Health - A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an
absence of disease
Health Psychology - Health psychology uses knowledge of psychology and health to
promote general well-being. They also understand the impact of psychology on physical
illness.
A field of psychology that ….
o Promotes Health and Prevents Illness
o Research
o Improve Healthcare
o Change at the individual and social lens
It focuses on key influences of health
o which include influencing one’s lifestyle
o helping people follow doctors orders (also called adherence)
o and it also engages in prevention at the social level
Health Psychologist:
o Specially trained to help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of
health and illness
o Supporting people who are chronically ill.
They promote healthier lifestyles and try to find ways to encourage people to improve
their health.
o For example, they may help people to lose weight or stop smoking.
Health psychologists also use their skills to try to improve the healthcare system.
o For example, they may advise doctors about better ways to communicate with their
patients.
To become a Health Psychologist:
• Complete a BPS degree followed by post-graduate education of Stage 1 as a Health
Psychologist
