PSYC 3110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: World Health Organization, Old High German, Health System
12 Sep 2013
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Document Summary
Definition of health psychology health psychology is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the application of psychological knowledge and techniques to health, illness and health care. World health derived from old high german and anglo-saxon words meaning whole, hale and holy. Etymology of heal has been traced to proto-indo-european root kailo- meaning whole, uninjured, or of good omen. Old english became haelan = to make whole, sound and well. Links exist between health, wholeness, holiness, hygiene, cleanliness, sanitariness, sanity, saintliness, goodness, and godliness. Galen believed that health and soundness occur when there is a balance between the 4 humours of the body: black bile, yellow bile, blood, phlegm. Imbalances of each humour could lead to certain diseases/illnesses, etc. World health organization (who) (1946) defined health as state of complete physical, social and spiritual well-being, not simply the absence of illness : health is never seen as complete , it is more something we strive for.
