MCAT Psych/Sociology Comprehensive Study Guide | 100% Correct | Verified | 2024 Version

Biopsychosocial approach to health and illness - Illness is determined by a variety of influences, rather than a single cause(NOT just biological factors). . The causes and effects of illness can be examined at multiple levels in the life of an individual, and no single level provides the whole picture. Collecting info about psychosocial context is key to the understanding of physical health and illness. How would a BPS approach look at a kidney vs how a BM approach would? - BPS- treat the alcoholism but also look at the persons living situation and stress level BM- would just treat the alcoholism Biomedical approach to health and illness - Disease is studied by examining only the biological factors of illness, neglecting contributing factors of psychological life and sociological context. ex- looking just at cardiac at muscle and genetic factors as to why someone has a heart attack and not looking at diet, exercise, stress at work what two types of therapy does the biopsychsocial model like to do? - direct therapy-treatment that acts directly on the individual (medicine) indirect therapy- aims to increase social support by educating and empowering family and friends Models - Provide an approximation (physical/conceptual representation) of a scientific phenomenon that cannot be observed directly Theories - Provides the conceptual framework for understanding objects of study