CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Disordered Eating, National Association To Advance Fat Acceptance, Heritability

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Natalie Emmons

Document Summary

Our behaviors and attitudes are critical in keeping us healthy, helping us regain health following illnesses, and helping us achieve well-being. Health psychology: an area of study that integrates research on health and on psychology to promote health and well-being. Well-being: a positive state that includes striving for optimal health and life satisfaction. The biopsychosocial model of health incorporates multiple perspectives. Biopsychosocial model: a model of health that integrates the effects of biological, behavioral, and social factors on health and illness. Examples of psychological factors: thoughts/actions, lifestyles, stress, health beliefs. Examples of social conditions: environments, cultural influences, family relationships, social support. Examples of biological characteristics: genetic predispositions, exposure to germs, brain and other nervous system development. Contrasts with the traditional medical model that views the individual as passive recipient of both disease and treatment. Not everyone is susceptible to the same diseases. Behavior contributes to the leading causes of death.