Chapter 17
Health Psychology
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Preview
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Health Psychology
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Theoretical Models of Change
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Tools for Effective Life Change
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Cultivating Good Habits
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Application: Health and Wellness
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Health Psychology
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Lifestyle choices and psychological states
can play important roles in health
Behavioral medicine focuses on behavioral
and biomedical factors
Health psychology focuses on cognitive and
behavioral factors
The Biopsychosocial Model
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Theoretical Models of Change
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Health Behaviors
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Practices that impact physical well-being
Theory of Reasoned Action
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Effective change requires
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Specific intentions about behavior
Positive attitude about the new behavior
Perceptions of social group support
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Theoretical Models of Change
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Stages of Change Model
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Precontemplation Stage
Contemplation
Preparation/Determination
Action/Willpower
Maintenance
The Role of Relapse
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Stages of Change Model
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Tools for
Effective Life Change
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Self-Efficacy
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Motivation
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Harnessing the placebo effect
Implementation intentions
Religions Faith
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Intersection: Bad Behaviors
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Understanding motivation is important for
changing unhealthy behaviors
Motivations for drinking
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Social motives
Coping motives
Enhancement motives
Drinking motivations are related to
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Frequency, personality traits, cessation
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cultivating Good Habits
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Controlling Stress
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General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
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Alarm stage
Resistance stage
Exhaustion stage
Psychoneuroimmunology
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Acute stressors
Chronic stressors
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General Adaptation Syndrome
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cultivating Good Habits
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Controlling Stress
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Becoming Physically Active
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Stress, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
Stress management program
Exercise
Aerobic exercise
Eating Right
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cultivating Good Habits
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Quitting Smoking
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Going cold turkey
Using a nicotine substitute
Seeking therapeutic help
Practicing Safe Sex
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Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Critical Controversy
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Obesity, Fitness, and Life Expectancy
Common Measures of Health
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Body mass index (BMI)
Waist circumference
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF)
Fitness and Weight  Health and Longevity
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Application:
Health and Wellness
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Positive Psychology
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Health and Wellness
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Psychology is the study of human behavior,
not just human dysfunction
Applications to your physical health and
well-being
How will you use what you learned to
improve your life?
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Summary
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Describe the scope of health psychology and
behavioral medicine.
Describe the various theoretical models of change.
Discuss psychological and social tools that
promote effective life change.
Describe strategies for cultivating good habits in
five important realms of life.
Explain why positive psychology is the essence of
psychology and how psychology applies to your
health and well-being.
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Summary
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Health Psychology
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Health psychology versus behavioral medicine
The biopsychosocial model
Theoretical Models of Change
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
Theory of reasoned action
Stages of change model
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Precontemplation, contemplation,
preparation/determination, action/willpower,
maintenance
The role of relapse
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Chapter Summary
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Tools for Effective Life Change
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
Cultivating Good Habits
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Self-efficacy, motivation, and religious faith
Controlling stress
Becoming physically active and eating right
Quitting smoking
Practicing safe sex
Application: Health and Wellness
© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.